Jennifer Palmer
July 20, 2011
MOORE — Residents here proved they will support their new Target store, with over a hundred waiting for the doors to open Tuesday.
As soon as the ribbon was cut, shoppers poured into the store, enjoying refreshments, perusing the aisles and searching for deals.
The Target is on SW 19 Street about a half-mile west of Interstate 35.
No longer missing
Moore has been enjoying steady retail development in recent years but, until now, didn’t have a Target store.
Deidre Ebrey, the city’s economic development director, said bringing in Target has been her top priority since she took the position nine years ago.
“If you wanted to shop at Target, before today, you had to shop outside the city. We’re winning back our residents,” she said.
New ‘PFresh’ layout
The store is one of 21 Target plans to open nationwide in 2011 and is the only store in the metro area to feature the “PFresh” layout, which has more fresh food than a general merchandise store.
It has a grocery department with produce, deli and bakery items; there is also a Starbucks, Target Cafe and Pizza Hut Express.
Paying customers
Haley and Despina Smith, both 9, rushed through the crowd and grabbed a bag of graham crackers to snag the honor of being the store’s first customers to checkout.
“We’re excited about the store because we live around the corner and don’t have to drive to Norman anymore,” the girls said.
Store Manager David Pena said the city of Moore has wholeheartedly embraced Target.
“It’s been a long time with us not being here before, but we’re here now,” he told the crowd during the ribbon cutting.
Ebrey said once Target chose its location, the city incentivized the deal with the Fritts family, which owned the land.
Tax incentive
The family will receive a portion of the sales tax collected by Target for five years.
Other retail has popped up in the area around Target. Among them are Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Jack in the Box and Schlotzsky’s.