Target store coming to old Kaufmann’s building in Downtown Pittsburgh
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If the old Macy’s and Kaufmann’s building was the target, the Minneapolis-based chain of discount retail stores has hit it.
A Target store is moving into the first floor of the largely vacant building at 400 Fifth Ave. The store will take up approximately 22,000 square feet.
It’s a welcome addition to the building which houses only one other retail business, the Waffles, INCaffeinated restaurant on the Fifth Avenue side of the building. A 160-room hotel, Even, occupies upper floors, and apartments have been developed as well.
The store is expected to open early next year.
“I could not be more excited about it,” said Marty LaMar, chief economic development officer for the City of Pittsburgh. “This is going to be a significant addition to our Downtown and this Smithfield Street corridor. It gives us an opportunity to provide some new retail in the city as well as a grocery store so it’s going to be a great draw to Downtown.”
Target confirmed the Downtown deal in a statement issued Thursday to Tribune-Review news partner WPXI.
“We’re excited to bring an easy, convenient shopping experience to additional guests in the community with this new Target store,” read the statement. “As we get closer to opening the store, we’ll have more specific details to share.”
The Downtown Target store will be considerably smaller than the 145,000 square-foot East Liberty Target. The model follows a recent push by the company to build smaller stores in urban locations near college campuses.
LaMar said he expects the new Target to spur more much needed development Downtown.
“When people hear that Target is coming to Downtown Pittsburgh, it will start a ripple effect,” said LaMar. “It will be a draw for other businesses. It will help us to get people to realize that Downtown Pittsburgh is definitely a place to be and a place where you can have viable retail. It will spur Downtown residential development, commercial development and retail development.”
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership expressed excitement about the wide range of products including groceries. Downtown Pittsburgh has not had a grocery store in recent memory.
“Our conversations with Target’s leasing team emphasized how the growth in Downtown’s residential community – up over 35% in the last decade, our dense office market, and access to the regional transit system had all played integral roles in their decision-making process,” said Jeremy Waldrup, CEO and president of Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
Core Realty of Philadelphia bought the building for $15 million in 2015. Calls to Core Realty CEO and president Michael Samschick were not immediately returned.