Target Plaza South, 1000 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Editor: We received this letter sent to Target corporate headquarters in Minneapolis by Kevin MacDonald and think it expresses the feelings of many in Ocean Beach.
Attn. Director of New Store Development
Target Corporate Office Headquarters
1000 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55403
Director,
I am a loyal Target customer. I shop at the super store, 3 miles form my home, on Sports Arena Blvd, in San Diego.
I have Target stock in my portfolio.
I implore you, as strongly as I possibly can, DO NOT PUT TARGET EXPRESS ONTO NEWPORT AVE IN OCEAN BEACH!
The arrogance of putting a Target Express into our small community where many, small, locally owned businesses work overtime to maintain enough market share to survive, is unacceptable. Ocean Beach Hardware competes with Home Depot 3 miles away. Apple Tree and Olive Tree Markets are within 2 blocks of the proposed location.
You are confident that your brand name will take enough sales from the local Mom and Pop bike shop, clothing shops, surf shops, hair salons, liquor stores and more to sustain a Target Express at the expense of all these local businesses. I have watched these businesses since I moved into the community in 1973. They work hard to stay viable when EVERY major brand super store is within 3 miles of the community, including a Target Superstore.
Many in the local community objected when Starbucks thought a store on this same street would draw enough business from the MANY locally owned coffee carts and coffee houses. It has been years since they opened. Many residents of the community, myself included, have never purchased anything from that store. The same promise holds if a Target Express comes to the proposed location.
I WILL NEVER BUY ANYTHING FROM THAT STORE!
I will remind everyone why it is anti community to buy anything from that store.
I will proudly display my “No Target in Ocean Beach”, indefinitely.
Not that it matters to your company value, but I cannot, in good conscience, keep Target stock in my portfolio.
I cannot say that a Target Express in the proposed location will fail. I can say that some local businesses may. I can say that the store will under produce for years, if not forever, before the backlash of community spirit stops stinging.
Ocean Beach does not need this store. I doubt Target needs this store.
Please reconsider the proposal to open Target Express in Ocean Beach.
Sincerely,
Kevin MacDonald
(address)
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
The corporate “CREEP”. The corporate dream only one store which is theirs in the town. The towns nightmare, no where else to shop, all the cool local shops put out of business as another colossal corporation sucks the commerce life out of community selling a bunch of junk, offering crappie paying jobs, spreading the ill will of occupation rather than invitation. Target was the retail turn on, quickly becoming a big turn off!
No one ever mentions SuperMax on the corner of Newport and Bacon, Target would probably shut them down.
The supermax sells disgusting expired food.
He makes a good argument.
Perhaps Target would be interested in the recent story of Little Miss Brewing getting denied an alcohol license. And Target’s off-sale license type would have a much higher bar to meet than Little Miss.
This well written letter hits the nail on the head why Target Express doesn’t fit with Ocean Beach, especially on Newport Ave. I am sure there are other communities that would welcome a Target Express… but OB is not one of them. I would love to see the space divided into several conecteted spaces.. a smaller antiques space with Seaport Villages Upstart Crow Coffeehouse & Bookstore, and Wyland Art Gallery. I think OB needs to put on there thinking caps on what it wants maybe a space for kids…. ideas from the Children’s Mueseum (not a tasting room where kids watch their parents drink). Maybe an old fashion soda bar (with smoothies and healthy items). Think about how Diane Powers made Bazar Del Monde so special. She made money for the city and brought both tourist and locals top Old Town. Bring in the beach culture, the history, the summer of love themes and that things that make OB special.
Looks like our Rite Aid will be Walgreens. I hope they keep all the employees!
http://www.10news.com/news/national/walgreens-to-buy-ride-aid-stores-for-4-4-billion