Vermont's first Target store planned for S. Burlington, replacing Bon-Ton
Target has announced plans to open its first store in Vermont at the University Mall in South Burlington, replacing the Bon-Ton store at the same location.
Bon-Ton is closing its store at the University Mall on Jan. 31, when its lease expires, and the Target store is projected to open October 2018, according to news releases from the two companies.
Target says it plans to employ about 75 people at the new location.
Vermont is the last state in the U.S. to host a Target store, Gov. Phil Scott wrote as part of the announcement.
"We know they will quickly become part of the Vermont community, and look forward to seeing its long-term success in the state," Scott added.
The company tried and failed to secure a location at Taft Corners in 2012, after Williston residents questioned the scale of the proposed 136,000 square-foot store.
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“We are thrilled to bring the best of Target to our small-format store opening in South Burlington at University Mall in fall 2018. From exclusive apparel and home brands, to beauty and essentials, fresh groceries and more, we’ll curate the assortment for the families and students from University of Vermont that this store will serve,” said Kristy Welker, Target spokesperson.
Target has announced a push to build small-format stores in urban and suburban areas nationwide.
The store will sell groceries, including fresh produce and grab-and-go items, as well as clothing, home goods and health and beauty products.
People will be able to apply for jobs about two or three months before the store opens.
Hannaford currently operates a grocery store at the southern end of University Mall.
South Burlington City Manager Kevin Dorn is thrilled by the news, and hopes people around the state will travel to South Burlington to shop rather than crossing Lake Champlain to shop at the Target store in Plattsburgh, New York.
Dorn sees Target as an anchor for South Burlington's new downtown on nearby Market Street.
"I think it's going to bring a lot more traffic to this area," said South Burlington City Manager Kevin Dorn. "This is a real gain for the region."
The coming arrival of Target was a secret and significant factor, Dorn said, in the city's recent decision to move its community library to a nearby storefront at the University Mall.
The Bon-Ton Stores announced Wednesday that it would close its 60,000-square-foot store at the University Mall on Jan. 31, when the store's lease expires.
About 42 Bon-Ton employees in South Burlington will be affected, according to a corporate news release.
"We continually evaluate our business at each store location, and had to make the difficult decision not to renew our lease," said Bill Tracy, president and chief executive officer for The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., in a statement. "We would like to thank the loyal customers who have shopped with Bon-Ton over the years as well as our devoted store associates for their dedication and friendly customer service to this community."
The University Mall is owned by LNR Partners after falling into foreclosure in 2016. The mall is nearly full with just three small vacant storefronts, including two in the food court, said General Manager Heather Tremblay.
Tremblay said mall customers have consistently requested a Target store for years. Target's new small store format, she said, made the move possible.
This story will be updated.