There are signs the new Bradenton Target store is getting closer to an opening date
It’s been more than three years since the Bradenton area’s last Kmart closed, and more than 2 1/2 years since Target confirmed that it had plans to renovate the space and open a 49,000-square-foot store there.
It’s been a slow-go since then. News has been scant from the retailer on when the store will open at 7350 Manatee Ave. W. in the Beachway Plaza shopping center.
“As we get closer to opening the store, we’ll have more specific details to share — including how the shopping experience will be tailored to serve local guests and the grand opening date,” a Target spokesperson said in an email last week.
Yet, there are indications that the opening will be this year, and maybe sooner rather than later.
The company has filed an application with Manatee County Building Services for several signs, including one for “wine and spirits,” one for a CVS pharmacy, one for order pickup and one for a Target bullseye logo.
More recently, paperwork filed with the county seeks a modification to the approved site plan to rehabilitate the existing entrance and modify the parking layout. The plan also includes a standalone drive-thru ATM in the parking lot.
Beachway Plaza is also home to a Publix supermarket as well as a Home Centric store, Pet Supermarket, and a number of restaurants, including Danny’s Pizzeria, Sapporo Sushi-Hibachi and Cremesh European Restaurant.
The proposed Target would be the second in Manatee County. The existing store is at 6150 14th St. W., in Bayshore Gardens.
There is a Super Target at 101 N. Cattlemen Road in the University Town Center shopping district. Other Sarasota Targets are at 5350 Fruitville Road and at 8401 S. Tamiami Trail.
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation, which operates nearly 2,000 stores, released its first quarter earnings report on Thursday.
“We came into the year clear-eyed about the challenges consumers are facing, and we were determined to build on the trust we’ve established with our guests. It’s required agility and the ability to flex across our multi-category portfolio as we lean into value and the product categories our guests need most right now,” Brian Cornell, chair and CEO of Target Corporation, said.
“Thanks to the team’s dedication, we saw an increase in guest traffic in Q1, with total sales increasing and profitability ahead of expectations,” Cornell said.
Target store sales were up .7% in the first quarter, while digital sales were down 3.4%, Target said.
“As we look ahead, we now expect shrink will reduce this year’s profitability by more than $500 million compared with last year. While there are many potential sources of inventory shrink, theft and organized retail crime are increasingly important drivers of the issue. We are making significant investments in strategies to prevent this from happening in our stores and protect our guests and our team,” Cornell said.
