On Target for a spring 2013 opening

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United States retailing giant Target will open its store in Sahali Mall in the spring of 2013.

News of Target's decision to open in the Zellers location was confirmed in September 2011, after Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), the parent company of Zellers, sold its leases to the Target Corporation for $1.8 billion.

Target plans to open between 125 and 135 stores in Canada next year, all in spaces formerly housing Zellers outlets.

The company expects to spend up to $11 million renovating he Sahali space, which will likely see the popular old-fashioned diner removed and a Starbucks brought in after Target agreed to carry its relationship with the coffee-shop chain north of the border.

"That's certainly going to be missed by the regulars," Sahali Mall manager Marg Archibald said of the diner, noting Target's arrival will increase to two the number of Starbucks outlets in the mall, with Safeway also housing a kiosk.

Aside from pegging a spring 2013 opening date, Target's announcement did not bring any news that wasn't already known — and there still are no dates set for when Zellers will be closed to complete renovations.

"That's exactly what we are keen to find out," Archibald said, noting she has been told renovations take between three and nine months to complete, depending on the state of the store.

"I know the store [Zellers] here doesn't know when it will close."

"This announcement was nothing new for us because their engineers have been coming in since before Christmas," Archibald said, noting the announcement is likely linked to  the recent pop-up store Target erected in Toronto as part of its coming-to-Canada promotion.

Nor has Target stated what will happen to Zellers employees, whether they will be hired and whether they will continue to be paid during construction.

Target expects to employ between 150 and 200 people at the 115,000-square-foot store.

And, there is no word on whether the Target will include fresh meat and groceries to compete with Walmart's decision to expand its nearby store.

"We're excited, but I hate to lose Zellers," Archibald said. "They've served this community very well."

Target is based in Minneapolis and operates 1,763 stores across the U.S.

Calls to Target's media office in Toronto have not yet been returned to KTW.