Here comes Target...
 

So Zellers will fade out and Target will be a part of the Canadian retail landscape starting in 2013. It should add some real competition to the marketplace.

I'd like to see how this shakes down locally. Which HBC stores will convert to what format? Will Target will build any new stores in the Hamilton area? And then, what does Wal-Mart do to counter Target's moves?

Let the speculation begin.

I doubt they will add new stores just take over the Zellers stores like Meadowlands, Upper James/Rymal, and Centre on Barton.

Any of their big box locations likely stay, Waterdown included.

But would they relocate stores? Upper James and Mohawk could use a better store. Or do they "rationalize" and cut a location here and there?

Do they buy neighbouring space and expand? Apparently they really wanted more space (or at least the room for potential expansion) at Ryckman's Corners.

And do they consider moving the Queenston store - which is reasonably close to the Centre location - further down, maybe to Fiesta Mall? Or do they keep it there knowing Wal-Mart is moving further away in a year or so?

Any of their big box locations likely stay, Waterdown included.

But would they relocate stores? Upper James and Mohawk could use a better store. Or do they "rationalize" and cut a location here and there?

Do they buy neighbouring space and expand? Apparently they really wanted more space (or at least the room for potential expansion) at Ryckman's Corners.

And do they consider moving the Queenston store - which is reasonably close to the Centre location - further down, maybe to Fiesta Mall? Or do they keep it there knowing Wal-Mart is moving further away in a year or so?

From what I understand, Target has the 220 leaseholds on Zellers locations once the deal closes. They intend to convert 100-150 of these locations to the Target format ($1 bil in renovations over two years), then will sell off or lease out the remaining locations to other retailers.

Locally, I would guess they will convert to the Target brand at the new warehouse type stores (Shops at Centre, Waterdown, Meadowlands) and 'rationalize' the smaller and/or older locations (U. Sherman and Mohawk, Queenston). Flip a coin on the Upper James and Rymal location, but I'm hedging on it being converted to a Target too.

Another option: do they build one new store to consolidate the two mountain locations? There's still some good land on Rymal Road East. Or do they go south? I could see Target and/or Wal-Mart on Upper James somewhere between Twenty and Dickenson Roads in a few years.

And let's throw another question out there: will we see a SuperTarget store in Canada?

That's too bad, I like Zellers. my fav is Sherman and Mohawk. It's never crowded.

I've never been to a Target but I think it's just like Walmart

I saw this coming...
 

I've seen a few Target trucks on the road and backed-up to some Zellers stores with goods being unloaded..
Same brands carried in their stores as Zellars..
Been in a few Target stores when down in the states, and relaized I was in an American version of our Zellers..
They do own them I think!
Next the Bay will be renamed, once we get used to this take over!
:|

no it's way better. At least clothes wise.

No, prior to this, Target did not own Zellers although that seems to be a common misconception. They did carry some of the same brands though. Zellers has been trying to be Canada's version of Target for sometime now.

A Sales related website has posted their predictions of which Zellers stores they expect to become Targets and which ones will close.

http://sinsblog.com/2011/02/13/sins-...an-store-list/
http://www.salesisnotsimple.com/uploads/targetfinal.pdf


They are predicting that Mohawk and Upper Sherman and Upper James will close with the other area stores becoming Targets. Both Burlington stores will become Targets.

I'm not surprised about Mohawk but Upper James is a bit surprising. It's only their predictions though.

Sorry to hear about Sherman/Mohawk. but not surprised. i loved that store because no one was ever in there. It will be vacant for about 6 years minimum, maybe a dollorama will take it over, when the land owner finally gives away the rental space.

It really is a shame to see our 60s-70s suburbs now lose to our 90s suburbs.

Wake me up when in-fill really happens in Hamilton. Anywhere in Hamilton.

Question: Is there anything in place of the old Limeride Road, Lime Ridge Mall McDonalds? It closed when the Linc was put in, has any business paying property taxes moved in yet? Really? I don't know. Last time I saw it, it was a rooftop gang hangout and gang tagged.

IIRC, the last time I drove by there when I was home (October/November) the whole block was still vacant, except for the Suds car wash.

Walmart signs deal with Target for 39 Zellers sites

MISSISSAUGA Walmart Canada says it has signed a deal with Target Canada to assume leases at up to 39 sites currently operated by Zellers Inc.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, nor were the locations.

Target signed a deal earlier this year to take over up to 220 Zellers locations from Hudson’s Bay Co. for $1.825 billion.

Target announced the first 105 Zellers locations that it plans to convert to Target stores last month in conjunction with an initial payment. Among those were five stores in Hamilton, Burlington and Waterdown. Another three local sites were not included in the announcement.

The U.S.-based retailer is expected to continue to select additional locations before it makes a second payment in the fall.

Zellers locations that Target acquires, but does not convert to its banner, are expected to be leased back to Zellers or potentially other retailers.

http://www.thespec.com/news/business...-zellers-sites

Last week, Target firmed up the Zellers locations it is picking up as it enters the Canadian market.

In addition to the five previously announced acquisitions in Hamilton/Burlington, Target has now assumed additional Zellers properties at Ancaster Meadowlands, Queenston Place (Queenston and Nash), and County Fair Plaza (Upper Sherman and Mohawk). Meadowlands and Queenston will be converted to Target stores, and Target is transferring the County Fair property to Walmart Canada.

Previously announced local Zellers locations to become Target stores include Upper James at Rymal, The Centre on Barton, Burlington Mall, Appelby Line and the Waterdown locations.

I'm glad to see Walmart taking over the Sherman and Mohawk location. Maybe that will take some of the crowd away from the Upper James location, which is packed all the time.

What will happen to the No Frills next door though? Or will this be a grocery free Wal-Mart? I'm guessing it will due to the size of the store.

I am guessing there will be a complete rebuild of the plaza with the beer store and credit union going in a streetside podium and the Walmart occupying the footprint of the original building. I doubt the No Frills will be at this location after the rebuild.

Four Targets for Hamilton, Burlington

Emily Jackson January 5, 2012 TheSpec.com

Target will have a big footprint in the GTA after its first round of store openings in Canada in spring 2013.

The retail giant released the locations of the first 24 stores it plans to open in March or April 2013. Four stores will be in Toronto and seven more will find homes in the GTA – depending where one draws the boundaries.

Target purchased leaseholds of 189 Zellers sites in early 2011.

“In addition to providing Canadian guests with an exceptional shopping experience, Target looks forward to continuing our strong reputation of being a good neighbour in the Canadian communities in which we will do business,” said Target Canada’s President Tony Fisher in the statement.

The retailer will spend between $10-11 million to renovate each location.

Each store will employ 150 to 200 people, which could provide up to 4,800 jobs for Ontarians. Hiring will take place in 2012.

Target will “engage” with current employees of Zellers to make it easier for them to apply for these jobs, according to the release.

Target plans to open up to 135 stores in Canada, mostly in 2013. It will announce more locations in the coming months.

Burlington, Burlington Mall
Burlington, Millcroft Centre
Hamilton, Centre Mall
Waterdown, Flamborough Power Centre

http://www.thespec.com/print/article/649810

Target confirms Hamilton, Ancaster locations

http://www.thespec.com/news/local/ar...ster-locations

Target Corp. has confirmed two Hamilton locations for future stores.

The U.S. retail giant says stores will open in South Hamilton Square at Upper James Street and Rymal Road in Hamilton and the Meadowlands Power Centre in Ancaster.

The Hamilton location is scheduled to open in summer 2013 and will employ approximately 150-200 staff. Hiring will start this year.

This Ancaster location is scheduled to open in summer 2013 as well and will have 150-200 staff.

The company has also announced there will be Target stores in Burlington at the Burlington Mall and the Milcroft Centre, at Hamilton’s Centre Mall and in Waterdown at the Flamborough Power Centre. These stores are set to open in March or early April of 2013.

Target plans to open 125 to 135 stores in Canada, with anywhere between $10 and $11 million being invested into each property to remodel the facilities

http://i.imgur.com/zxaH6tAl.jpg

I took this picture to show the transition between the 2 store chains...kind of like the outsider looking in, in a way.

This was taken at Upper James and Rymal, by the way.

=)

I figured it was there. If it were the lower city, there wouldn't be a cart anywhere near the store.

Target killing Canadian operations
(The Globe and Mail, Marina Strauss, Jan 15 2015)

U.S. discounter Target Corp. is closing its money-losing stores in Canada after almost two troubled years here.

The Minneapolis-based retailer said on Thursday it filed an application for protection under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Toronto.

“After a thorough review of our Canadian performance and careful consideration of the implications of all options, we were unable to find a realistic scenario that would get Target Canada to profitability until at least 2021,” said Brian Cornell, who became the new chief executive officer last summer.

“With the full support of Target Corporation’s board of directors, we have determined that it is in the best interest of our business and our shareholders to exit the Canadian market and focus on driving growth and building further momentum in our U.S. business,” he said in a statement.

With 133 stores in Canada and about 17,600 employees, Target expects to report about $5.4-billion (U.S) of pretax losses on discontinued operations in the fourth quarter of 2014, mainly as a result of the writedown of the company’s investment in Target Canada along with costs tied to leaving this country and operating losses in the quarter before Thursday’s court filing.

Target expects to report about $275-million of pretax losses on discontinued operations in fiscal 2015.

Target anticipates its cash costs to discontinue its Canadian operations to be $500-million to $600-million, most of which will occur in the retailer’s 2015 fiscal year or later. It said it has enough resources to fund these expected costs, including cash on hand and ongoing cash generation from its U.S. business.

It said it expects its decision to shore up its profit in the coming year and beyond while increasing its cash flow in fiscal 2016 and beyond.

That's a lot of stores that could go empty. Hope they bring back Zellers.

This sucks. Haven't had to go to a Walmart since Target opened, now I might have to face the insanity once in awhile.

Wonder if WalMart will relocate to Target's store at Centre on Barton. It'll be big enough for WalMart to fill. The current WalMart could be broken into two or three stores.

I'm afraid the Meadowlands and Upper James Target will be empty for awhile.

The Meadowlands has good highway access so could be a good spot for Apple to locate a Hamilton store.

That store is many multiples bigger than what Apple Stores usually are. I think the average for an Apple Store is six or eight thousand square foot- that Target store must be well in excess of 100,000.

Yeah they can probably demo it or convert it into three or two stores.

The Target at Nash and Queenston is going to city empty for a decade.

Zellers, Bargain! Shop, or some other Canadian chain is what I would prefer to see. Too many American companies moving in.

I think a lot of these are going to sit empty for a long time, including the Centre Mall one unless they get somehow partitioned into smaller stores, or get simply demolished. There just isn't much use for these giant department stores any more.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Kohl's make a move to pick up a good chunk of these locations.

On another note...

Sony closing all 14 stores in Canada

http://www.thespec.com/news-story/52...res-in-canada/

There goes Target...