The Duluth store opened Oct. 8, 1962, and is about to mark its 59th anniversary. It was one of four Minnesota stores that launched the Target chain that year, with the other fledgling locations in Roseville, St. Louis Park and Crystal.
On Oct. 13, the Duluth Planning Commission will review a proposal to expand the original Target at 1902 Miller Trunk Highway by nearly 12%. If the plan proceeds, the store's footprint will grow to more than 155,360 square feet.
That's on the larger end of the spectrum for Target, which says its stores average about 130,000 square feet. But the Duluth store won't be an outlier by any stretch, as individual stores range from 7,000 to more than 200,000 square feet in size, according to Jacqueline DeBuse, a Target spokesperson.
In an era when many big-box retail stores have gone vacant, Adam Fulton, deputy director of Duluth's planning and economic development department, said, "We are pleased to see continued use of and reinvestment in an existing store."
But Fulton said he wasn't surprised, noting the excellent access to the site from Maple Grove Road and Miller Trunk Highway.
Target had plans to remodel about half of the 1,915 stores it operates but briefly put much of that work on hold last year, as it refocused to meet the unique challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the efforts to refresh the chain have resumed, with about 140 stores to be upgraded this year and even more slated for future improvements.
Gary Meader / Duluth News Tribune
At this early juncture, DeBuse said she could not say exactly what additions the proposed Duluth expansion might bring, but issued a statement that read: "Target is committed to investing in the guest experience with the next generation of store design. The reimagined stores feature modernized design elements and bring more technology and digital experiences to our stores to make shopping even easier, safer and more inspiring for our guests."
A before-and-after view of the produce section of a remodeled Target store. Contributed / Target Corp.
The exact timing of the Duluth project has yet to be determined, but the store will remain open and will continue to welcome customers during the interim.
A Target news release referred to this year's remodeling push as a "glow-up" with "top-to-bottom makeovers including modern fixtures, enhanced experiences and the latest in health and safety." The retailer reported that the stores it remodels this year will be on top of more than 800 stores it has upgraded during the past four years.
"We're going to touch every store in the chain," DeBuse said. "We're giving people a reason to come inside and also equipping our stores to serve as online fulfillment hubs."
A before-and-after view of an order fulfillment counter at a remodeled Target store. Contributed / Target Corp.
In materials filed with the city planning department, Target noted: "The past couple of years in the retail industry have seen exponential growth in online sales and a completely new way of delivering product to our guests. Target has continued to be one of the most innovative industry leaders in blending online sales and fulfilment with a brick-and-mortar store; this new wave of retail innovation requires that changes be made to our current store footprint and operation."
As part of the project, Target will sacrifice 74 conventional parking stalls but the store will gain 24 stalls on the north side of the building, where customers can receive contactless product delivery service.
Fulton said the project actually will reduce the amount of impervious surface on the site by two-tenths of an acre, "And they're adding stormwater treatment elements to prevent sediment, oil and trash from entering the system."
"As you can imagine, when the Target store was originally developed 59 years ago, they didn't focus as much on stormwater. So, we're pleased that Target continues to bring its site into greater compliance," he said, noting the desire to protect Miller Creek, a designated trout stream that flows through the area.
"original" - Google News
October 06, 2021 at 05:10AM
https://ift.tt/3iDIxMZ
Target looks to expand, update original Duluth store - Duluth News Tribune
"original" - Google News
https://ift.tt/32ik0C4
https://ift.tt/35ryK4M
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Target looks to expand, update original Duluth store - Duluth News Tribune"
Post a Comment