What: Target will open seven new stores this fall—six of them large-format—across seven states, as part of its plan to launch 300 new locations and achieve $15 billion in sales growth by 2030.

Why it is important: This expansion signals Target’s long-term commitment to brick-and-mortar retail, even as the industry faces digital disruption and changing consumer behaviors.

Target is accelerating its physical expansion with the opening of seven new stores this fall, including six large-format locations that exceed the retailer’s 125,000-square-foot average. The new stores, opening between October 12 and 19, will be located in Arizona, California, Florida, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, and Virginia. This rollout is part of Target’s broader strategy to open 300 new stores over the next decade and drive $15 billion in sales growth by 2030. The expansion comes amid ongoing sales challenges, with second-quarter net sales down 0.9% year-over-year and comparable store sales dropping 3.2%. The company is also undergoing a leadership transition, with COO Michael Fiddelke set to succeed longtime CEO Brian Cornell in February 2026. Target’s focus on large-format stores and continued investment in physical retail underscores its belief in the enduring value of brick-and-mortar locations as a foundation for future growth, even as digital and omnichannel strategies remain central to its evolution.

IADS Notes:

Target’s ongoing large-format store expansion is part of a broader trend among US retailers to optimize physical footprints and adapt to evolving consumer behaviors. As Forbes reported in June 2025, Target’s investment in new stores aligns with industry-wide strategies to balance physical growth with digital transformation and omnichannel development . Yahoo! finances in November 2024 highlighted how Macy’s and other department stores are reinventing their formats and optimizing store networks to remain competitive . Inside Retail’s January 2025 and Retail Dive’s October 2024 coverage emphasized the importance of leadership transitions and strategic transformation in shaping the direction of major US retailers, including Target’s upcoming CEO change . Retail Week in December 2024 and Fashion Network in December 2024 noted that department stores and mass retailers are investing in store optimization and innovation to address shifting consumer preferences . Finally, Inside Retail and Retail Week in March 2025 described how leading retailers are investing in property, digital capabilities, and new store concepts to support long-term sales targets and maintain market share .

Target’s fall store openings focus on larger formats