THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 9, 1995 TAG: 9512090308
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MATTHEW DOBIAS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short : 39 lines
Target Stores, the discount retailer that competes with Wal-Mart, announced plans Friday to open 11 stores in Virginia, including three in Hampton Roads.
The retail chain, a division of Dayton Hudson Corp., said it has chosen a location in Chesapeake's Greenbrier community, another near Janaf Shopping Center in Norfolk and a third in Hampton.
The Chesapeake and Hampton stores should open next summer, and the Norfolk outlet is expected to follow in the fall, Target officials said during a news conference at their regional offices in Richmond.
``In the past, we have really been able to service the military communities very well,'' said Tom Sands, regional senior vice president with Target Stores. ``We have an excellent track record with stores near military establishments.''
Target and local real estate officials have previously said there could be other stores in the works for Virginia Beach and Newport News. But it wasn't clear Friday whether the retailer is still considering opening stores in the two cities.
Target officials did say that they had pinned down sites for three Richmond stores and others scattered across central and northern Virginia. In neighboring Maryland, Target will open 13 discount stores.
Each store will employ about 150 people.
Target has 673 stores in 33 states. It competes with Wal-Mart, Kmart and other discount chains. The retailer said it will open a $70 million distribution center in Augusta County so it can fuel its expansion into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. by CNB