Sad. I think we just got one here in the Portland area. It is lovely. It doesn't look like the same generic Target/Walmart/etc. box and in a few ways even evoked ShopKo to me (back when they were trying new things). The Target near Washington Square Mall is newly renovated.storewanderer wrote:... he also announced they are abandoning the "store of the future" concept due to high costs.
The store was brighter than most Target locations, housewares is right in the front now. No more Target cafe, but instead a modern Starbucks with a lot of floor space setup as you walk in. My companion said the new restrooms looked really nice too, and not like the usual Target ones.
I was impressed by how beauty looked, even though Target already does that well in my opinion. Grocery did have a "rustic" look to the signs now that I looked online about some of the proposed changes but otherwise seemed much like its previous incarnation. Detergents moved to some new aisles that face the grocery area, rather than generic aisles that face the same direction as the main store aisles.
The "rustic" look continued outside, where the front door is now covered with a new entrance using only the Target bullseye in white over some wood accents and new lighting above the store entrance. Departments do have picture / text signs and electronics was renamed 'tech' like it is in many of the newer locations. Apparel had mannequins and racks that were atypical of a 'cheap' store that did a good job of showcasing merchandise. It felt a lot more like what JCPenney was trying to do during the Johnson era. It made me wonder if the sign was LED lit and will be able to change colors, such as what Apple does on Earth Day with the green apple.
This store was also playing music, something that was nixed at Portland's "Galleria" (city) Target. The roadside sign was inverted from the usual red on white background to white symbol and name on red background.