Bullseye for Shoppers: Target launches new west-side store, boosting retail corridor

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Nearly three years after news of its plans to open a second store in the Queen City was announced, Target has taken its place as the anchor tenant of a west-side retail development.

City of Springfield officials joined Target leadership and staff at a ribbon-cutting ceremony March 10 to mark the soft launch of the big-box retailer’s 148,000-square-foot store at the corner of Sunshine Street and West Bypass as part of the Sunshine Towne Centre. The event was in advance of the store’s planned grand opening on March 15.

Curtis Jared, co-developer of Sunshine Towne Centre, said Target’s arrival solidifies the retail corridor of the Sunshine Street and West Bypass intersection.

“That’s a major entry into Springfield from everybody getting off [Interstate] 44 onto [Highway] 60 and then coming in that way or coming through all the way from Monett, Billings, Republic, all the way into Springfield,” he said. “That’s a big deal. If anybody wants to look at it from the benefit it has for Springfield, all that’s doing is drawing in that many more people into our local economy.”

Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) just earlier this month opened its 2,000th store companywide in North Carolina, part of its plan to debut 30 new locations this year, according to its website.

“What you see here tonight is a result of a tremendous amount of hardworking leaders and team members who have poured their energy, care and commitment in bringing this store to life,” said Thomas Moore, store director, prior to cutting the ribbon at the local store. “They have built something special for Springfield, and I cannot be more proud of what they’ve accomplished.”

Moore is a Target veteran, beginning employment with the retailer in 2009 and working his way up to store director of the Branson location, he said. The longtime Ozarks resident, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business management, followed by an MBA – both from Missouri State University – now leads a team of 180 employees in Springfield.

“We are proud to be part of Springfield, and we are excited to welcome you in,” Moore said.

Amanda Ohlensehlen, who directs Springfield’s Department of Workforce and Economic Vitality, also spoke at the event, providing remarks on behalf of the city.

“We want to thank the entire Target team for choosing Springfield and for your investment in this location,” Ohlensehlen said. “The opening of this store brings more employment opportunities, expanded retail options for our residents and additional energy to one of Springfield’s key commercial corridors.”

Target officials declined to disclose costs for the new Target location at 3444 W. Sunshine St., which is based on the company’s Northstar Prototype, roughly 20,000 square feet larger than the chain’s average store. Springfield’s first Target store, which opened in 1996 at 1825 E. Primrose St., is roughly 125,000 square feet, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

The larger-format store incorporates natural lighting and includes an expanded grocery area as well as a Starbucks, CVS Pharmacy, a small-scale Apple shop and a large fulfillment area with curbside order pickup, store officials say. St. Louis-based S.M. Wilson & Co. was general contractor and Benchmark Group Inc. was architect for the project.

Sunshine Towne Centre developer Springfield West Partners LLC sold property within the commercial subdivision for undisclosed terms to Target Corp. in late 2023, according to past SBJ reporting. Springfield West Partners comprises Jared, president and CEO of Jared Enterprises Inc., and St. Louis-area developer Tom Walker.

Myriad tenants
Target is the latest and largest addition to Sunshine Towne Centre, which has seen the arrival of several tenants over the last year, including Olive Garden, BluCurrent Credit Union and Wendy’s. A community improvement district has been established for the retail center and out-lots, not including Target. In the district, 1% will be collected for 27 years and is estimated to generate some $2.2 million to reimburse public improvements to the 23-acre site, according to past SBJ reporting. Additionally, past reporting put the price tag of Sunshine Towne Centre at roughly $60 million.

Tom Rankin of SVN/Rankin Co. and Rankin Development LLC is the co-developer of Springfield Plaza, located on the other side of Walmart Supercenter from Sunshine Towne Centre. He said Target’s opening should be a draw for many shoppers, while also attracting them to other retailers in the vicinity, such as his development, which includes Ross Dress for Less, Ulta Beauty and Michaels.

“Retail follows retail, and the more retailers we have in southwest Springfield, the more it’s good for everybody,” Rankin said. “If you look at the amount of retailers that are in the South Glenstone corridor, as those retailers seek a second location, we’re thankful that they’re looking at the west part of town, West Bypass, West Sunshine.

“As more retailers come, it’s just synergy,” he added. “Each retailer that comes out in the area makes it an easier decision for the next retailer to join them.”

Within Sunshine Towne Centre, a 33,000-square-foot retail center is under construction. Jared, the developer, said he is actively working with prospective tenants but declined to identify any at this time. He estimated the center will house 12-15 tenants, depending on the amount of space each may require. Construction is set to wrap this summer, according to past reporting, but the retail center likely won’t be occupied until 2027, he said.

“I don’t want to overpromise and underdeliver,” Jared said. “So, I’d say 12 to 18 months just to give us plenty of time to get tenants in there because it’s not a matter of filling the center, it’s getting the right tenants and the right tenant mix.”

At the nearby Springfield Plaza, retail activity continues, as Dutch Bros Coffee, Jersey Mike’s Subs, AT&T and Great Clips occupy a recently opened 4,500-square-foot retail center at a roughly 1-acre parcel located between Taco Bell and Plaza Tire Service in a Springfield Plaza out-lot. While Jersey Mike’s has a “coming soon” sign outside its shop, the other three are open for business, according to store signage.

Rankin said more growth is coming to Springfield Plaza, as developers still have about 40 acres that front West Bypass on both sides of Seminole Street that they are actively marketing to prospects. Additionally, the developers recently sold 18 acres around 2000 S. McCurry St. to allow for construction of a multifamily housing development.

Tamera Martin, a representative with project developer Westhaven Springfield LLC, said she anticipates work starting on the 421-unit apartment complex this summer with hopes to have the first units available for lease by spring or summer of 2027. She declined to disclose costs for the project, which is still unnamed at this time.

The primary retail center of Sunshine Plaza, which includes Ross Dress for Less, will have a new tenant opening soon. Signage for Slumberland Mattress Plus is on a storefront between Ulta Beauty and Five Below Inc. However, Slumberland officials didn’t return a message seeking comment prior to press time.

Rankin said his company also is negotiating with an unidentified national tenant for space at the west end of the center by Michaels.

“Talking to retailers, they still feel there’s a strong need, strong demand for sit-down restaurants,” he said of space in that west Springfield retail corridor. “I think that’s an area that has not been served adequately. And as more things come out there, then the greater that need is.”

Shopping experience  
In a March 10 interview with SBJ, Moore said the store’s food-forward focus may be its biggest amenity. 

“We’ve greatly expanded fresh produce, meat and dairy,” he said. “This is going to feel a lot more like a grocery store to guests, especially guests who are used to shopping at Target stores.”

The look of the store is distinctive for most Targets, he said, noting its interior has wide aisles and prominent signage. 

“There’s natural lighting inside this store that’s pretty new for stores of this prototype,” he said, adding this is especially evident at Starbucks on the north side of the building. “There’s only a handful of stores in the country now that are going to have natural lighting coming in.”

Moore added that leading the launch of the new store is the highlight of his Target career. He said roughly 80% of the store’s leadership team has previous Target experience.

Moore points out that the east side of the building has over 20 parking spaces dedicated to its curbside pickup, which the retailer calls its drive-up. Many Target stores, such as the other Springfield location, had to add the shopping feature retroactively.

“We knew about drive-up before the inception of the store,” he said. “So, we were able to kind of sequester an ideal part of the store on the side of the building, so that way it interferes less with the actual parking lot, and it feels more of like you can get in and get out.”

Expediting orders taken online or via the Target app will be a priority, Moore said.

“I want to make sure our wait times are as small as possible, and I have the infrastructure and the logistics and the wind at my back here to help me do it,” he said, noting he wants customers to be driving away inside of one to two minutes. “I want to be known as the fastest drive-up area in town.”