Artist Rendering Of Chicago Division Street Store

Target Corp. has lately announced a number of store openings in major metropolitan markets. The company will add locations in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, markets where Wal-Mart, Inc. has faced opposition to store development.

Target will open the metro’s second new-generation urban prototype store in San Francisco. To date, Target has announced plans to open 10 stores in 2013, including CityTargets in Los Angeles and Portland, OR, in addition to the new one in San Francisco.

The New York store will open in the borough of Staten Island. Target enjoys a particular advantage in the Gotham market, as political activists have prevented Wal-Mart from opening a store in the city proper.

The new Target will operate at the Richmond Shopping Center beginning in July of next year, the company said. It will weigh in at approximately 150,000 square feet and offer shoppers the full discount-store grocery program including extensive fresh food.

“New York continues to be a strong market for Target, and we’re excited to expand our presence there in 2013,” said Samir Shah, Target’s senior vp/stores in the Eastern region, in announcing the Staten Island unit opening. “Target is committed to being a good neighbor and developing long-lasting relationships with guests and the New York community.”

Target’s new store in Chicago, a metropolitan area where it already has a substantial presence and where Wal-Mart has only lately overcome activist opposition to core market stores, opens in October 2013, the company stated. Political opposition to Wal-Mart's store development plans in Chicago faded in the recession. The new Windy City Target will stand on West Division and North Larrabee streets, and occupy 190,000 square feet. It also carry will carry the full grocery package, the retailer said.

"In Chicago, we are committed to attracting companies who are willing to invest in our neighborhoods, create jobs for our residents and improve quality of life in the city," said Mayor Rahm Emanuel in a statement released by Target. "There will be 200 new jobs at this Target, to add to the thousands of employees already working for Target in Chicago, advancing the fortunes and opportunity for the neighborhood."

The second CityTarget store in San Francisco also opens during October 2013. The store will cover 119,000 square-feet at the southwest corner of Geary and Masonic streets. Just this month, the retailer opened the city’s first-ever Target store, also a CityTarget, at the Metreon.

“We are thrilled to call San Francisco home to our newest CityTarget at Geary and Masonic,” said Cary Strouse, Target’s senior vp/stores in the Western region. “With more than five CityTarget locations confirmed, California has always been a strong market for Target. We are excited to continue being a good neighbor and developing long-lasting relationships with guests at both San Francisco Target stores.”

As is the case with New York, Wal-Mart operates no San Francisco stores.