Oh, what a difference five years makes.
It was five years ago this month that San Francisco's first Target store opened to much pomp and celebration in the faux-Vegas splendor of the Metreon. Since then, four more have opened across the 7x7 — another one downtown on Bush Street, that one at Geary and Masonic, one on Ocean Avenue, and one that opened in July at the old Stonestown Borders/Sports Authority (designation determined by length of time in area). And now comes news that a sixth Target will be opening in the city, raising the question: Have we reached full Target saturation yet?
Like the Stonestown one, this Target is slotted for another former Sports Authority, a retail chain that closed all its locations after it went bankrupt then failed to find a buyer last year. The company's 1690 Folsom Street location, which based on Yelp reviews closed in June of 2016, has been sitting vacant ever since — a dicey proposition for a structure on Division Street, a location known for its persistent encampments of homeless people.
The perceived grittiness of the area didn't deter Target, it appears, even as the company's initial plans in 2014 to open four SF stores expanded with the Stonestown effort. As as reported by Hoodline in February, the retail giant first approached San Francisco's Planning Commission in February stating a desire for a sixth SF spot, asking "to lease the property, complete interior tenant improvements and limited exterior modifications such as new signage to convert it to a Target store."
SocketSite reports this week that unlike the other Targets in the city, which are the smaller "City Target" style stores with a limited selection of goods, the sixth one — right across from Rainbow Grocery, I'll note — will be a "full service" store, like the ones at Daly City's Serramonte Mall and (the far inferior one in) Colma.
Via the comments to their report, SocketSite also notes that the location's parking lot will boast 52 slots, but Target says that as it is "located in an area that is well-served by public transit...many of its customers may walk, bike, or utilize public transportation to access the site."
The 40,000 space will also include a "a full-service CVS Pharmacy and Starbucks," SocketSite reports. No word yet on if "Tally" the shelf-scanning robot will be allowed to transfer to SoMa from his(?) current position at their downtown location.
Related: Robot Roaming Aisles Of Downtown Target Confirms Underwhelming Future