Deed inked for second Springfield Target 

A real estate deal has been conducted for Springfield’s second Target store. 

The Greene County assessor’s office recorded a warranty deed Dec. 18 that shows the transfer of property to Target Corp. from Springfield West Partners LLC within a commercial subdivision described as Sunshine Towne Center. 

Curtis Jared, president and CEO of Jared Enterprises Inc., said Springfield West Partners, which comprises him and St. Louis-area developer Tom Walker, sold property for a second Springfield Target store at the southeast corner of the intersection of Sunshine Street and West Bypass. He did not disclose the financial terms of the deal with Target. 

Jared described Walker, who appeared before Springfield City Council regarding the possible Target development last summer, as the project lead. 

“It’s his field of expertise, so he’s taking point,” Jared said. 

Jared added that Walker will manage off-site and on-site infrastructure while Jared is in charge of the development side. 

“Divide and conquer,” he said. “There’s plenty of work to go around.” 

The 23-acre site was previously occupied by Elite Homes Center, a manufactured and modular home dealer. Elite’s stock of mobile homes has been moved from the site. 

Walker, who, through Jared, declined to comment for this article, told council in June that plans called for the site to be transformed into a $30 million, 148,000-square-foot Target store with 50,000 square feet of additional retail space and three standalone parcels, one of them a 7,500-square-foot restaurant site. He added a Target store would take about 12 months to build. 

Jared said Springfield West Partners retained 42% ownership of the site and is developing it for another large retail user, though he did not name it. 

“I try to respect what people don’t want us to say so they can make their own announcement when they’re ready,” he said. “I think Springfield will be pleased with it.” 

Jared said he expects the site for his development to be ready to begin in the next 30 days and be finished by fall. He expects to announce off-site tenants in 30-60 days.  

“Those users should start coming up out of the ground by late summer or early fall, when our site work, utilities and structures are all put in place,” he said. 

Much of the infrastructure for the large retailer will be completed by fall, as well, he said. 

“It’s an area of town that needs some revitalization, and it’s nice to see some development out there,” Jared said, citing the Walmart Supercenter and Menards nearby, as well as highway access to Republic. 

He added that he expects the development to spur additional projects. 

“It’s good for Springfield,” he said. 

Jared said it has taken over 18 months to get to this stage. 

Walker, the owner of Retail Realty Group LLC, appeared before City Council on June 5 to confirm the $54 million planned development of the Sunshine Towne Center, possibly to include a Target store, though he added at the time that an agreement with the retailer was not a done deal. The property purchase appears to make the plan official. 

Walker told council that an official announcement would come from Target. 

At the time, Walker noted, “This has been the worst-kept secret that I’ve ever had in Springfield.” 

According to past Springfield Business Journal reporting, the new Target would be about 30,000 square feet larger than the existing Target store on East Primrose Street with a fulfillment center for online sales. It would generate roughly 180 new jobs, with 40% of them full time, according to Amanda Ohlensehlen, director of Economic Vitality for the city. 

A request for comment to Target’s corporate press office did not receive a response by deadline.