Target joining retailers adding stores in October

Article by: Jackie Crosby , Star Tribune
Updated: October 9, 2007 - 8:30 PM

The exterior of a Target store is seen in San Mateo, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 3, 2007. A federal judge has granted class-action status to a lawsuit alleging that Target is breaking California and federal law by failing to make its Web site usable for the blind. The plaintiffs fault Target for not adopting technology used by other companies to make Web sites accessible to the blind. The technology allows reading software to vocalize invisible code embedded in computer graphics and describe content on a Web page. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Photo: Paul Sakuma, Associated Press

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Just as consumers are showing signs of keeping their spending in check, retailers are opening record numbers of stores.

Target Corp., quietly will open 61 stores nationwide today -- five of them in Minnesota -- tying a same-day opening record set last year. The stores' official opening is Sunday.

Earlier this month, Kohl's opened 95 stores, the largest expansion in its history, and J.C. Penney opened 22.

October can be a busy month for store openings, allowing retailers to launch new locations in time for the holiday rush with Christmas merchandise already in place.

Of the 61 new stores to open nationally, 18 will be SuperTargets, which include a full-service grocery store. All five Minnesota stores will be SuperTargets. They are in Edina, Burnsville, Maple Grove, Richfield and Rochester. The Minneapolis-based retailer's goal is to increase square footage 8 to 10 percent a year.

Target is the nation's second-largest discount chain behind Wal-Mart, which opened 20 stores last month. With the new stores, Target will have 1,591 stores (210 are SuperTargets) in 47 states.

Target has a history of opening stores only in March, July and October, fitting with the big-ticket merchandise seasons of spring, back-to-school and holiday shopping, Target spokeswoman Brie Heath said.

The massive same-day launches allow the retailer to be more efficient at training, hiring and marketing, Heath said.

In recent weeks, Target lowered expectations for its September same-store sales results. The National Retail Federation predicts the slowest Christmas in five years.

Jackie Crosby • 612-673-7335

Jackie Crosby • jcrosby@startribune.com