TargetExpress Coming to 19th & Chestnut

I’ve extolled my love for Target previously in this space. There’s just something about the store that’s hard not to like – great prices, a good selection, and friendly associates. What more could you want?

Unfortunately, Center City has long been denied their own experience of the Target love. By around this time next year, however, that problem will be remedied. A TargetExpress store is coming to 19th and Chestnut, in the space previously occupied by the historic Boyd Theater.

Target will finally be coming to Center City, albeit in a smaller store.

Target had announced back in February that it was planning the opening of 15 new stores, including 8 Express stores. TargetExpress stores are a smaller version of the company’s signature “big box” format, coming in at around 20,000 square feet. The store caters to an urban population that likely walked, biked, or took public transportation to get to the store. Accordingly, product selection is designed to be easily portable. An example given was that, instead of a 12-pack of paper towels, the store would likely sell a 2-pack, or just single rolls. The stores have a flexible format – each one carries a different merchandise assortment depending on the needs of the surrounding community. Target says that it is still researching the product assortment for the Center City store and is gathering feedback from consumers on what they want to see in the new store. It will definitely carry apparel, beauty items, tech, furniture sized for apartments and condos, and groceries.

Spokeswoman Erika Winkels enthused that the Center City location would be a great fit for Target, owing to the exceptional foot traffic in that location and the fact that plenty of people are “out and about on a daily basis” there.