Slimmed-down stores open as citytarget.

click > enlarge


On 29 July Target is opening three stores in Chicago, Los Angeles and Seattle. Chicago’s store is in one of the city’s most architecturally significant Louis Sullivan designed building (formerly Carson Pirie Scott) which many have been waiting for with mixed emotions. Target had promised not to deface the landmark building and has kept their word. CityTarget is a “little box” concept that will feature fresh food, clothing and electronics. The State Street CityTarget occupies roughly 124,000 square feet and about 54,000 feet is selling space. This is the second CityTarget in Chicago. Another Los Angeles and San Francisco store will open in October. A third Los Angeles store and one in Portland will open in 2013.





The San Francisco store is located in the new Metreon in the Yerba Buena Center Redevelopment Project Area and will occupy 85,000 square feet.





A Seattle store located at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Pike Street is a 3-story store occupying 103,000 square feet.





above> CityTarget mini-golf promotion aboard a Washington State Ferries vessel on the Seattle/Bainbridge route.

If you’re aware of the JC Penny rebranding and the CityTarget concept, you can visualize two retailers seeking a new and similar niche. Both are pushing design and value. JCP new ceo, Ron Johnson, a former Target and Apple store retail change agent, has partnered with several designers and the designer brands may be more visible than the Chicago CityTarget store I recently visited. CityTarget seems light years ahead of JCP at the moment, though Johnson must feel good that JCP is mentioned in this design-related post. Of interest is the latest CB2 catalog, which also featured designers and objects found at the 2012 Milan Salone. This is CB2′s best designed object catalog and puts them head-to-head with DWR more than ever before. These four retailers are specialists selling a select mix of clothes, electronics, furniture and kitchen and bath accessories. There’s also a new hip, good-value online segment from other brands that’s figured out how showcase and sell. [ citytarget ] [ cb2 ] [ dwr ] [ jcp ]