Target Readies First Three City Targets

[Sherman A1]

CHICAGO — Target Corp. told shareholders Wednesday it plans to open its first urban format — City Target — in three cities next month: Los Angeles, Seattle and here.

The annual meeting was held inside the Chicago location. The stores will run between 85,000 square feet and 100,000 square feet and will feature groceries and an assortment of household products geared for city residents and commuters.

Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president and chief executive officer of the Minneapolis-based company, said Target will open a second City Target in Los Angeles and a store in San Francisco in October; and a third L.A. location and one in Portland, Ore., next year.

During the question-and-answer portion of the meeting, a shareholder from California asked why a private-label can of peaches from Target was a product of China and was priced at $1.34, while a can from "our friends in Bentonville" contained peaches from the U.S. and cost only 98 cents.

Kathryn A. Tesjia, executive vice president, merchandising, fielded the question, saying, "We are relatively new to the food business, but we're adding team members to our staff for food sourcing to buy more product locally, and I will look into it when I get back to Minneapolis."

Read to mean: We don't have a bunny's idea of how a grocery store works, nor do we expect to in the foreseeable future.

http://supermarketnews.com/retail-amp-financial/target-readies-first-three-city-targets#comment-18671

[frazzled]

1. But what a Target

When Carson Pirie Scott department store abandoned its landmark Louis Sullivan building on State Street and Madison in 2007—one of the most significant American architectural achievements not just in Chicago but probably all of the US--it was in decay. A private entity spent years restoring the building (the upper floors now contain offices and the design department from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago). But there was no one to occupy the iconic lower floors. A local super-upscale, uber-expensive specialty food market, Fox & Obel, was going to go in there, but then the recession hit and they backed out. Target finally came along to scoop up the lease. The city won't let them put signage up, except for some red to identify it, and the building will finally be used. And also, there will be a supermarket in the Loop.

I don't shop for food at Target, or really much of anything else. I used to when I lived in the store's home site of Minneapolis, and when it was owned by the Dayton family, and when they really were unique. But I'm not going to diss this opening of a vacant space in a historical building. Let's hope they do a better job of sourcing local: it's up to us to pressure them.

Carson Pirie Scott, pre-Target:



About to open Target:

[YellowRubberDuckie]

2. Most of walmart's food is from South America and Asia.

I've not noticed Target's food coming from China anymore than Walmart.

[LibertyLover]

4. I loved the Carson store in the Loop

When I was in college I would take the IC from Hyde Park into downtown on a Saturday morning, go to a book store or the library to get some books, and walk through the Carson Pirie Scott store or the Marshall Fields store just for fun. I once bought a small sterling silver liquor glass in Carson Pirie that I still have. I loved that silly little glass and had great fun drinking amaretto or another liquor from it.

[frazzled]

5. Heh, the IC is no longer the IC

It's the "Metra Electric."

Now there's no more Carson's (though the Sullivan building of course still stands), no more Marshall Field's (it's Macy's, though they still sell Frango Mints) ... but the U of C is still in Hyde Park! (Though there's no Hyde Park Co-op; it's a Treasure Island!).

Plus ça change ...

[LibertyLover]

7. No Co-op?

What a travesty. I loved shopping there. My dorm was on Blackstone and it was only a couple of blocks up to the Co-op. But you are right about change. One thing that won't change: The University of Chicago . . . where fun goes to die!

[Romulox]

3. I'm much more excited about Meijer stores push into Detroit. They are likely planning a similar

urban strategy, and their overall quality and selection far exceeds Target, with respect to groceries.

[FrodosPet]

6. They DO have more experience than Target at groceries

Unfortunately, it is down to Meijer, Kroger, Sav-A-Lot, and Aldis for groceries if you want to stay out of Wally World.