Target has officially announced that a much-anticipated urban retail store specifically planned for the ground-floor of new high-rise condo Radian in downtown San Diego will not open at that location.
“We routinely assess our current projects, and have made the decision to no longer pursue a store in this location,” writes Target spokesperson Jim Joice in a brief statement emailed to The San Diego Sun on October 5, 2023. “We continue to operate 27 stores in San Diego.”
Joice did not elaborate on why Target, which had delayed opening the planned downtown store several times this year, has now opted to pull out.
On September 26, the Minneapolis-based retailer did announce the closure of nine Target stores across four states due to concerns about theft and crime.
A September 26 press release from Target read: “…we cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance. We know that our stores serve an important role in their communities, but we can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for all.”
The nine stores recently closed by Target were located in New York City, Seattle, San Francisco/Oakland and Portland.
A phone call made to Radian for comment was referred to developer Cisterra Development.
Cisterrra principal Jason Wood confirmed that Target had informed him they were not moving forward at the 675 Ninth Avenue location.
“After saying they were delaying an opening to next year, they informed us they don’t have plans to open,” Wood says. “We’re disappointed. We do have a 15-year lease and Target will be paying the rent.”
Rent terms were not disclosed. Wood says Target has the option to change its mind. At the moment, Cisterra does not have verbal or written authority from Target to seek a replacement tenant. The vacant space is 36,000 square feet and has 40 dedicated parking spaces on the floor above the retail area.
Wood says Target did not him give specifics on its decision to not occupy the space.
Referring to Target’s closures in NYC, Seattle, San Francisco/Oakland and Portland, Wood says, “Downtown San Diego does not have the type of crime or issues you see in those other cities. Yes, there is homelessness. But there was homelessness in 2021 when Target signed a contract.”
Wood said he is left to speculate that Target feared San Diego’s homelessness situation would get worse. Or, that California’s perceived lax enforcement of petty theft laws was part of the decision. SDSun
