Last year, we wrote about Target’s penchant for backfilling former Kmart stores. While it’s likely that Target still keeps an eye out for closing Kmarts, the big box retailer has clearly turned its gaze elsewhere too. Per PlannedRetail, Target currently has over 70 renovation and backfill projects in planning or under construction. In all, those projects represent about 4.6 million square feet in development. Stick around to learn more about how Target backfills former big box retailer spaces.
In this article, we’ll get into a breakdown of Target’s apparent strategy, Target’s planned construction pipeline, and PlannedRetail project reports.
Does Target Have A Backfill Strategy?
While we can’t say whether or not Target backfills stores instead of building new ones as a rule, it was Target’s apparent attraction specifically to former Kmarts that originally caught our eye. Moreover, if it is strategy, it makes sense. After all, it’s almost always more cost-effective to backfill a space used for a purpose similar to your own than to build an entirely new one.
Target doesn’t rely on a unique store experience or design either as far as big box retailers are concerned. As such, a space with sufficient square footage that’s already equipped with things like shelving and cold storage is desirable. Although the trend of Target backfills does mean that certain services, materials, and expertise aren’t necessary, lots of work remains. That could mean opportunities from opening a Starbucks to building and installing new infrastructure. It could even be installing chargers for electric vehicles in the parking lot. Almost too many options.
While Target historically seemed to focus on former Kmarts, which would have been a decision made in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Target backfills are now slated for a number of other former retail locations. Now, here’s an in-depth look at Target’s planned construction pipeline.
Target’s Planned Construction Pipeline
Unfortunately, we can’t share absolutely everything we have with you. As a result, we’re instead highlighting some notable figures below:
If you’d like to see more on planned construction pipelines, then check out our Planned Retail Construction Pipeline, which features Market Leaders, Top Chains, and Hot Markets for all of the retail categories in the PlannedRetail product from BuildCentral.
Notable Target Backfills
Target at Premier Centre
| Construction Type: | Renovation, Backfill | Footprint/Building Type: | Big Box, Shopping Center |
| Retail Category: | Grocery, General Retail | Chain: | Target |
| Estimated Value: | $1-$5 million | Shopping Center Name: | Premier Centre |
| Parking Spaces: | 250 | Company Retail Chain: | Target Brands, Inc. |
| Location: | Mandeville, LA 70471. 3450 U.S. Hwy 190 |
| Details: | Plans call for the remodel of the former Stein Mart store into a 57,000-square-foot Target grocery store. |
| Stage: | Planning (Active) |
| Grocery Opening Date: | 2023 |
Target
| Construction Type: | Renovation, Backfill | Footprint/Building Type: | Big Box |
| Retail Category: | Grocery, General Retail | Chain: | Target |
| Estimated Value: | $1-$5 million | Shopping Center Name: | N/A |
| Parking Spaces: | 0 | Company Retail Chain: | Target Brands, Inc. |
| Location: | Portland, OR 97229. 12675 NW Cornell Rd |
| Details: | Plans call for the renovation of a former Bales grocery into a Target store. |
| Stage: | Construction |
| Construction Start: | 10/2021 |
| Construction End: | Q3/2022 |
| Grocery Opening Date: | Q3/2022 |
Target
| Construction Type: | Renovation, Backfill | Footprint/Building Type: | Big Box |
| Retail Category: | Grocery, General Retail | Chain: | Target |
| Estimated Value: | $1-$5 million | Shopping Center Name: | N/A |
| Parking Spaces: | 0 | Company Retail Chain: | Levin Management Corporation, Target Brands, Inc. |
| Location: | Eatontown, NJ 07724. 70 NJ-36 |
| Details: | Plans call for the remodel of a 59,563-square-foot former Babies R Us into a Target store. |
| Stage: | Planning (Active) |
| Grocery Opening Date: | Q4/2022 |
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