Nathan Paris

The Redwood City Target is not one of the nine Targets affected by the shutdown and will continue to remain open with the same hours. The store, however, is very short-staffed and is currently hiring.

As the holiday season approaches, some shoppers may find their favorite retail store inaccessible. Target is closing down nine locations due to ongoing theft and safety concerns for both staff and customers.

All nine locations are set to permanently close on Oct. 21. due to ongoing theft and organized retail crime affecting these stores. Among the stores, three are in the San Francisco Bay Area, three in Portland, two in Seattle, and one in New York City. Team members affected by the shutdowns have the ability to work at a different Target location.

“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,” Target said in a statement.

Before deciding to close these stores, Target stated that they had made significant investments in theft prevention and security. They expanded their security team and introduced theft-deterrent technology. In a press release, Target admitted that even with these efforts, they will continue to confront significant challenges in operating these stores safely and effectively.

“Safety incidents associated with theft are moving in the wrong direction,” said Brian Cornell, Target CEO, back in August.

According to Cornell, Target stores saw a 120% increase in violent theft within the first five months of 2023 compared to 2022. In the May earning reports, Target expects retail loss to be $500 million more than last year, citing theft and organized retail crime as the main reasons for the expected loss. 

The effect of these closures on customers remains uncertain. As they seek out new shopping options and adapt to changes in their retail landscape, shoppers will have to decide what works best for them.

“I think the majority of people will buy their products on Amazon now,” said Kevin Yang, a Carlmont junior. 

Target is actively working with lawmakers and government officials to implement laws to prevent theft. Target is also working with the Retail Industry Leaders Association and the National District Attorneys Association to combat ongoing theft and organized retail crime. 

Only time will tell whether alternative retailers can match Target’s product offerings.

“It may not have a significant impact since they have alternative shopping options or have the ability to shop from another location,” said Alex Kim, a Carlmont sophomore.