January 8, 2015 · Exit133

Millennials Moving to the City Bring Target Along

Millenials like to shop at Target, and as more of them move to cities, they're bringing Target stores with them.

New Target Expresses popping up in urban centers aren't the traditional big box format; they bring the one-stop convenience of the big box store to a smaller format, with "edited" selections of products and services. Walmart has a similar model, called Walmart Express. The smaller footprint stores, often located in mixed-use buildings, do fit in better with their physical surroundings, but they're still big chains.

The new Tacoma Walmart brought out the protesters, but we keep hearing about the desire for a downtown grocery store (the closing of the downtown Tacoma City Grocer notwithstanding).

There's not enough density downtown to support one yet, but with growth plans and new projects moving forward, we have to wonder: how would Tacomans react if a Walmart Express decided to locate in downtown Tacoma? We know of at least one available storefront ...

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9 comments

Joe January 9, 2015

My two cents, target over wal-mart any day.
Christina Jarman January 9, 2015

Target yes ... Walmart I would be ANGRY!!!!
talus January 9, 2015

The perceived distinction between the two stores shows how shallow and "identity" driven our culture is, which the advertising for both stores of course capitalizes on (Wal-Mart red state, family values, Target blue state quasi-hipsters). We are, collectively, total suckers. If we're going to have a big name retailer downtown, how about an REI in a reclaimed industrial building like they've done elsewhere?
- Christine January 10, 2015
  
  [quote]If we’re going to have a big name retailer downtown, how about an REI in a reclaimed industrial building like they’ve done elsewhere?[/quote] I suppose that dehydrated camping rations and shot blocks qualify as food, but I don't think that's what we're looking for here.
  - thackerspeed January 11, 2015
    
    There could be some positive consequences to the establishment of a downtown outdoor recreation supply business. Particularly one located in a reclaimed industrial building near the intersection of Pacific Avenue and South Tacoma Way. The possible world that I have in mind involves young adventurous rich kids buying designer camp gear and gentrifying the woodlands surrounding the Tacoma Rescue Mission.
Jim C January 9, 2015

There's plenty of population density downtown, unfortunately the people that make up this population don't have income.
- thackerspeed January 9, 2015
  
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Terry January 9, 2015

Well, we already have a Walmart, Target and REI store in town already, so I can't see any of this happening here. I'm just thankful that Tacoma has plenty of retail, (and the room for a lot more) in the city limits. Anyone in Downtown is less then 2 miles away from a grocery store (with parking) right now.
thackerspeed January 13, 2015

"...how would Tacomans react if a Walmart Express decided to locate in downtown Tacoma? We know of at least one available storefront ..."--E133 Walmart stores are not union organized. This week, I got schooled by a union cashier at Fred Meyer store. She said that Walmart cashiers earn about $11.hr without benefits vs. union cashiers earning $19.hr plus benefits. That may be true, but the fact that a special interest group can provide some advantages for organized labor, means also that it can provide some disadvantages for the general public. Many Tacoman's witnessed the IGA non-union store attempt to conduct business in downtown Tacoma. Day after day, union picketers established a presence in front of the store. Whatever the effect of that union presence, peaceful and civil as it was, eventually the IGA store left the premises. Given the history of the 13th & Pacific Avenue IGA store, whether any other non-union store, say Walmart Express, would attempt to conduct business downtown is quite nearly a closed question.