Target, Inc.

Milwaukee -- The Milwaukee office of Opus Development Corp. announced that T.J Maxx, Ulta Salon, Rue 21 and Charming Charlie’s will be the first tenants in the second phase of its Shoppes at Fox River retail development in Waukesha, Wis.

Bridgeport, W.Va. -- Youngstown, Ohio-based Cafaro Co. announced that Planet Fitness will open a new gym at the company’s Meadowbrook Mall, located in Bridgeport, W.Va.

The 23,000-sq.-ft. facility is slated to open in September, in a space currently occupied by High Point Furniture.

The Meadowbrook Mall Complex, at nearly one million sq. ft., is anchored by Elder-Beerman, J.C. Penney, Target, Sears and Marshalls.
 

Beth McGuire a senior group manager at Target was among a group of 25 “women to watch,” compiled by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal as part of the publication’s annual Women in Business Awards. The business newspaper also recognized 25 female industry leaders. McGuire and the other honorees will be recognized at a May 23 luncheon and featured in a special edition of the publication dated May 25.

Whether employees at Target’s headquarters are able to hold meetings, work out, shoot baskets or have a cookout in a new downtown Minneapolis space is up for consideration on May 3 when the city’s zoning board of adjustment considers granting the retailer a variance.

Target and other retailers have fought unsuccessfully for years to level the e-commerce playing field in the United States by requiring Amazon.com and other online-only merchants to collect sales tax. Doing so would eliminate the Internet-pure-play retailers’ most significant competitive advantage, and for a glimpse of just how significant look no further than Canada.

Relocating a business and a family from Memphis, Tenn., to St. Petersburg, Fla., is a short distance in miles, but for The Sembler Co., which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, the journey has been much longer.

“We have developed 350 projects, including 125 or 130 shopping centers,” said Mel Sembler, recently named chairman emeritus. “It’s been an interesting career.”

While there still is not enough new shopping center construction to warrant a “Fastest-Growing Developers” ranking system — as Chain Store Age provided for 20 consecutive years, from 1989 to 2008 — progress continues to be made.

From Target Corp. and Big Lots to J. Crew and Express, the list of U.S. retailers expanding into Canada or scouting locations north of the border seems to grow longer every day. With its growing population, enthusiasm for U.S. brands, relatively underserved market and stable, resilient economy, Canada has become a land of opportunity— and a potentially important profit center — for American retailers. In fact, more U.S.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. will celebrate Earth Day by distributing 1.5 million reusable bags in all of its stores on April 22.

In addition, Target will offer guests simple, sustainable solutions and more than $50 in savings on sustainable products throughout April in our stores and via a limited-time website. The retailer also will partner with Recyclebank, an organization that promotes sustainable decisions by allowing individuals to earn rewards for actions like recycling and reducing water use.

Walmart should shorten its checkout lines and improve the store experience in Canada prior to the arrival of Target next spring. That was the advice of Diane Briesebois, president and CEO of the Retail Council of Canada who spoke Wednesday at a dinner in Toronto, which preceded Walmart’s annual international meeting for the financial community.

Following her prepared remarks, Briesebois was put on the spot by Walmart International president and CEO Doug McMillon who asked during a question and answer session, “What can we do to improve in this market?”