Target to open small-format store in Midtown Detroit
October 25, 2021Oct. 25, 2021
JC Reindl
Target intends to open a small-format store in Midtown Detroit as part of a planned new apartments development, the developer said Monday.
The 32,000-square-foot Target store would be situated at the southeast corner of Mack and Woodward avenues, near the Whole Foods. Target has been eyeing this general location since at least 2016.
Monday’s announcement did not specify a construction start or opening date for the Target.
The store and apartments would be built on what is now an empty lot, next to a newly constructed parking deck. The overall project is still subject to approvals of its site design as well as various development subsidies.
The Midtown store would be significantly smaller than typical Target stores, which average about 130,000 square feet, according to the retailer.
“I would like to thank Target for choosing Detroit, Midtown and our next new mixed-use apartment hotel community in the city,” said Jonathan Holtzman, CEO of City Club Apartments, which is developing the planned 350-unit apartment complex, known as City Club Apartments Midtown.
The planned store represents a return to Detroit for Target, which in 2003 closed its location at 8500 E. Eight Mile Road.
A Target representative at the time cited the store’s weak financial performance and said it was losing customers to Target stores at Northland Center and Eastland Center malls. Since then, the Northland and Eastland Targets have closed.
Earlier this month, Meijer opened one of its new small-format stores, a 42,000-square-foot Rivertown Market, about a mile east of downtown at 1475 E. Jefferson.
The Target would be part of the City Club Apartments Midtown development, which envisions 350 upscale apartments within a new 16-story residential tower and a six-story midrise building. Twenty percent of the units were be reserved at lower rents for tenants with below-median incomes.
Holtzman said earlier this year that a large retailer wanted to anchor the planned development, although he wasn’t at the time authorized to name Target.
Monday’s announcement does not give anticipated groundbreaking or opening dates. Holtzman does say that “we continue to be in an environment with significant labor and material shortages.”
“Midtown Detroit Inc. is thrilled that Target is coming to Midtown,” Midtown Detroit President Sue Mosey said in a statement. “This store will offer grocery, general merchandise and other amenities for our growing downtown/Midtown population of over 25,000 residents and 30,000 college students. We anticipate residents from other Detroit neighborhoods will also find this store a convenient shopping option.”