Exterior rendering of Target’s South Burlington, Vermont store.
Vermont Business MagazineToday, Target announced plans to open its first store in Vermont, a 60,000-square-foot small-format store at University Mall in South Burlington. Target has signed a lease with LNR Partners for this small-format store, projected to open in October 2018. Following the opening of this Vermont location, Target said in a statement that "will proudly serve guests with stores in all 50 states." Target previously had considered a location in Williston. Vermont was also the last state to get a Walmart.
Coralee Holm, Public Information Officer for the City of South Burlington, toldVBMthatTarget will take the spot of Bon-Ton at the UMall. Bon-Ton announced Wednesday that it would close its UMall store in January 2018 when its lease runs out. Holm said that other retailers typically follow Target into a new location and that this could be part of a "revitalization effort" on behalf of the UMall, which went into foreclosure in July 2016.
“Vermont has a dynamic retail market and we are very pleased to welcome Target to the state, further strengthening this sector and enhancing retail options for our consumers,” said Vermont Gov. Phil Scott. “As we focus on growing the Vermont economy, bringing in new employers with a commitment to creating jobs and providing career opportunities for Vermonters is so valuable to those efforts. While we may be the last state to join the Target family, we know they will quickly become part of the Vermont community, and look forward to seeing its long-term success in the state.”
Target’s strategic priorities include reaching new guests by expanding small-format stores in urban areas, dense suburban neighborhoods and near college campuses. With Target’s small-format stores, assortments are tailored to meet the needs of local guests. The Vermont store, located at155 Dorset St., will provide neighboring residents and University of Vermont students in the Burlington area with a quick-trip shopping experience with a curated assortment mix, including:
- Men’s and women’s apparel and accessories, including Target exclusive brands
- Kids’ and baby apparel, accessories and back-to-school items
- An assortment of home and décor essentials
- Health, personal care and beauty products, featuring natural and organic products
- A grocery selection including fresh produce, grab-and-go items, snacks and meal solutions
The new store will also offer Target’s Order Pickup service, providing even more convenience and added security with the ability to buy online and pick up in store. Online orders are typically ready for pickup at the storewithin one hour.
The South Burlington small-format store will feature modern design elements, inside and out, including:
- Enhanced landscaping
- Wood-plank exterior and interior walls
- New windows at the front of store and an open ceiling structure
- Pendant and LED lighting
- Elevated merchandise assortment displays
Target plans to operate more than130 small-format storesby the end of 2019. Guests who shop Target’s existing small-format stores open around the country have responded well to having these customized shopping experiences available in their neighborhoods.
The Vermont store will employ approximately 75 team members. Target is an employer that values the individuals who come together as a team to serve guests in the community and provides team members with opportunities to build and develop skills for their careers. In October, Target announced plans toraise its minimum hourly wagefor all team members to $11, along with a commitment to increasing the minimum hourly wage to $15 by the end of 2020. This significant investment the team will allow Target to continue to recruit and retain strong team members and provide an elevated experience for its guests and in the communities it serves.
“Target has found the right opportunity to open our first store in Vermont. Our expansion to the Green Mountain state is long overdue and we are thrilled to meet our newest neighbors and community when our South Burlington store opens in 2018,” said Mark Schindele, senior vice president, Properties, Target. “We look forward providing a convenient shopping experience with a broad, unique product assortment that only Target can provide.”
“We are thrilled that Target has chosen South Burlington and University Mall as the location for their first store in Vermont. Target will provide yet another great anchor for the build-out of South Burlington City Center, our new downtown, while adding to the already thriving economic vitality of our community. South Burlington welcomes Target and all its employees as great additions to our business community and appreciate the shopping opportunities that will be available to our residents and visitors,” said Kevin Dorn, City Manager of South Burlington.
According to former owner Finard Properties, at 610,693 square feetUniversity Mallis Vermont’s largest enclosed shopping mall. Bon-Ton is one of four anchor department stores at UMall, along with Sears, JC Penney and Kohl's.
Finard previously had suggested that Bon-Ton could bebought out, as part of turning the entire mall into a mixed-use retail/commercial/residential space as part of South Burlington's grand plan for a City Center on both sides of Dorset Street.
According to the Burlington Free Press, LNR Property, based in Miami Beach, FL, took control of the mall in November 2016 as receiver on behalf of the bond holders who own the asset. LNR is expected to put the property up for sale.