By: Talbott Mattson
Jobs galore are to be had by those applying for positions in the soon to open Target store located only blocks from Columbus Circle.
“The chain plans to open its small-format store between West 61st and 62nd streets on Broadway “later this fall.” West Side Rag and Patch first spotted the hiring announcement. The store is hosting hiring events this week at its Target Studio in Chelsea for up to 160 positions,” reported Crain’s New York Business. “The 35,000-square-foot Target location is part of AvalonBay’s Park Loggia, a 172-unit condominium tower, constructed at the former site of the American Bible Society headquarters. The condos will open to occupancy later this fall.”
The retail chain operators nearly three dozen stores in New York City, with expansion ranging from the Upper East Side and Gravesend to Washington Heights, Hell’s Kitchen and Staten Island. The chain was hoping to open another location in Jackson Heights several months ago, but opposition from a community group and local elected officials scotched the deal.
Luckily for the neighborhoods mentioned, Target has shown itself to be a good neighbor in locations around the country. Many of its new small-format stores feature pieces of locally-designed art, from murals behind the registers to installations in the parking lots.
“From Burlington, Vermont, to San Diego, California (and lots of places in between), we’re opening new stores in communities that boast unique cultures, histories and identities. We’re designing each store to reflect our local guests and their needs, including specially tailored product assortments. And to say “thank you” for welcoming us into the neighborhood, we often commission local art that sparks joy and inspiration as soon as guests arrive at their new Target,” the company says on its web site.
It continues, “To date, we’ve collaborated with nearly 30 local artists for pieces at 60 stores. The work is as diverse as the artists themselves, including a wood-etched mural in downtown Minneapolis, hand-painted landscapes in Burlington, Vermont, and specialty wallpaper in Honolulu, Hawaii. And each piece is designed to represent the store’s unique community.”
As the company explains, “The whole process starts long before we break ground on our new stores. Members of Target’s properties team (which include experts in architecture, construction, real estate and more) extensively research each new store’s neighborhood. They then share what they’ve learned about the community and its culture with our in-store marketing team. From there, the marketing team works with Target Creative, our in-house creative agency, to support the local artist, helping them refine a design, selecting the right materials and installing the final work.”
