Target Closing Stores in Major Cities Due to Rampant Theft, Impacting Communities

Target is closing 9 stores in major cities like NYC, Seattle, and San Francisco due to theft and safety concerns. This impacts communities who relied on Target for affordable groceries and employment.
Retailers like Nordstrom, Whole Foods, and Walmart have also closed urban locations citing theft, safety issues, and low profitability. Downtown areas are being impacted.
Target's Harlem location was welcomed when it opened in 2010 but is now closing, disappointing locals who say it pushed out smaller grocers and lacks adequate replacement options.
Experts say urban theft is catastrophic for already thin profit margins at small-format stores. Downtown disinvestment then causes a negative cycle making cities less livable.
Retailers are being more transparent about theft struggles but solutions like added security are degrading the retail experience, rather than preventing the root causes.

startribune.com

Relevant topic timeline:

8/25/2023

Inside the empty flagship Nordstrom in San Francisco, closing after more than 3 decades

The flagship Nordstrom store in San Francisco is closing due to decreased sales, crime in the area, and changing shopping habits, prompting the city to plan for new concepts such as pop-up shops and a soccer stadium in downtown San Francisco.

9/3/2023

Toothpaste, chocolate, deodorant under lock & key: US retailers voice alarm at rising theft, 'flash rob' attacks - Times of India

Retailers in the US, including Walmart, Target, and CVS, are experiencing an increase in theft and organized shoplifting, leading to heightened security measures such as locked shelves, padlocked refrigerators, and scattered call buttons, in an effort to combat the rising issue that is impacting their earnings.

9/27/2023

Target Shutting Down East Harlem Store Due to Safety Concerns, Part of Broader Closures

Target is shutting down its store in East Harlem due to theft and crime, despite efforts by New York officers to protect the store and reduce incidents.

9/28/2023

Target closing Seattle stores despite crime data, surprising locals who question real motives

Following Target's announcement that it will close two Seattle stores due to safety concerns, questions arise about whether crime was the primary factor behind the decision, as police data points show that the most police responses this year were not directly related to the Target stores in the affected areas.

9/28/2023

Business Leaders Alarmed by Store Closures Caused by Surge in Retail Theft

Business leaders express alarm as Target announces the closure of nine stores due to large-scale theft, prompting concerns about the growing problem of organized retail crime.

9/29/2023

Target executive: Organized retail crime surging, forcing store closures

The former vice chairman of Target expressed his distress over the escalating theft and crime rates that have led the company to close stores in liberal cities due to concerns for public safety.

9/29/2023

Retail Theft Surges, Forcing Target and Other Major Retailers to Close Stores

The rise in theft and violence at major retailers like Target is not only impacting the companies themselves but also negatively affecting the communities they operate in, leading to store closures, job losses, and reduced tax revenue.

9/29/2023

Target Closing Two Seattle Stores Amid Safety Concerns, No Layoffs Planned

Target will be closing its stores in the Ballard and University District neighborhoods of Seattle, affecting 90 workers who will be given the option to transfer to other locations.

9/30/2023

Target Closing Stores in Major Cities Due to Rising Retail Theft and Safety Concerns, Says Former Best Buy CEO

Former Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly has commented on Target's mass store closures, highlighting that it is a reflection of rampant retail theft in our society and the tensions that companies need to address.