Target Express in South Park – a Photo Gallery of What OB Could Expect

The front of Target Express in South Park, right off Fern Street. All photos by Frank Gormlie, even the blurry ones.

Take a Pictorial Stroll Through What Could Be Coming to Ocean Beach

Having never been inside a Target Express, I wanted to visit one plus I wanted to show the people of Ocean Beach with my camera what to expect if one does show up on Newport Avenue. So, I visited the one in South Park (actually the only one in San Diego) to glimpse a view of a possible storefront future for OB.

The Target Express in South Park is on a large lot mainly by itself. It has a huge parking lot – which is the first thing any OBcean would notice, with reportedly 99 spaces. But that’s triple the parking for any T. Express at the Newport Ave Antique Center.

There’s also a food truck and a coffee kiosk set up on the lot and their customers also presumably use it.

Once inside – it’s noting special. It just looks like a trimmed-down regular Target. One can see all 4 walls. It’s set up just like any Target, but this one has fresh food right next to sales on pants.

It has all the consumer products one would expect in this kind of store. Sundries, clothes, make-up, toiletries, frozen foods, beer, alcohol, kitchen stuff, greeting cards, office supplies – and yes, it does carry towels!

Frying pans next to socks.

I particularly wanted to check out the fresh food section; there wasn’t much. Lots of processed and packaged food, of course. And plenty of frozen foods.

I did speak to several shoppers. They all liked the place – of course, they’re shopping there – but 2 out of 3 said they initially opposed it, but now are happy it’s there. None of them, however, do their main food shop there.

This is the fresh food. This Express did replace a food market but this is what was traded?

The booze aisle. Target pledged OB that they would not open with any alcohol for sale, but couldn’t guarantee they never would.

The beer selection wasn’t all that great.

The “famous” towels – Target representatives claimed they found consumer “gaps” in the stores in OB and one product they didn’t find were towels. So here they are in South Park.

For awhile, there was only 1 check out counter going, like Rite Aid and not like the usual Targets.

Once back outside, I looked around for any other businesses, and there are a few; a couple high-end restaurants, a brewpub, a children’s clothing store, the famous “Big Kitchen”, but not much else.

I did ask the clerk at the liquor store across the street from Target if he’d seen any changes since the corporate site had opened, but he hadn’t been there that long. He did tell me that other business owners aren’t that happy.

Maybe that will be my next visit to South Park.