An ode to downtown Targets
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It's two floors, with an escalator, aka the dream. Photo: Arika Herron/Axios
For a few brief but beautiful days, I got to live out one of my wildest dreams — eating, sleeping and working within walking distance of a downtown Target.
Why it matters: The departure of major department stores predated the pandemic, but it continues to present gaping holes among downtown Indy's vacant storefronts — depressing downtown's post-pandemic rebound.
The big picture: Target is one of the nation's largest and most popular department stores, particularly among Millenials (like me) and Gen Zers.
- The Minneapolis-based retailer operates 11 Indianapolis-area stores.
Yes, but: Despite years of hoping, wishing and gossiping, we still don't have one downtown.
- Supposedly, there was a tentative deal to land a Target in the former Carson's department store at the corner of Meridian and Washington streets in the Circle Centre Mall, but that fell apart in 2019.
- Over the years, there's been speculation that the store could land at the Bottleworks development or open one of its "express" formats near the campus formerly known as IUPUI.
The intrigue: Circle Centre Mall is once again slated for redevelopment as the city puts a renewed focus on making downtown more liveable, walkable and enjoyable for residents — rather than designing the Mile Square entirely around the visitor experience.
💭 Arika's thought bubble: In downtown Minneapolis, you can make a literal Target run — popping in for oh, I don't know … dry shampoo, perhaps, while your co-worker picks up a package of Coca-Cola flavor Oreos.
- As a downtown dweller, I love keeping my car parked for days at a time and doing all my travel on foot but there is nowhere I can walk to for a can of green beans and end up snagging a scented candle, decorative pillow and a new pair of jeans.
👀 What we're watching: The new and improved Circle Centre gives Target another chance to consider downtown.
- Execs will see more housing, residents and new development than the last time they kicked our tires.
- During last night's "State of Downtown," Downtown Indy Inc., shared that families living downtown have increased more than 66% since 2010 and roughly three-quarters of downtown residents are under the age of 60.
- Your move, Target!