Where to Find the Smallest and Largest Target in the U.S.

History of Target

Target began its story in 1960 when The Dayton Company wanted to change the experience of mass-discount stores for the customer. As the company explored its options, its vision was to create a space that offered high-quality, discount merchandise and was family-friendly.

This vision became the super retailer Target. The name was chosen from over 200 possible names. The company landed on the brand name because it emulated its goal; they wanted to hit the target of creating a high-quality discount store that families would flock to. In 1962, Target opened in Roseville, Minnesota, and the vision was successful. Customers were shocked at the quality and size of the discount store. It even gained a French nickname, “Tarzhay,” which makes it sound like a fancy French boutique instead of a discount box store.

While Target started as a private family-run store, it went public in 1967.

Flagship Store Locations

Target has continuously grown since 1967, with 1,897 stores across the United States, and you can find a store in every state. However, some of the most important stores, or rather flagship locations, can be found in the following cities:

• West Hollywood, California
• South Loop Chicago, Illinois
• Rockville, Minnesota
• White Plains, New York

A flagship store is typically credited with being one of the most important stores in the chain for several reasons. Often, they are the largest, have the most inventory, or can be the most popular with the most sales. Regardless of the reason, flagship stores set the bar for the other stores in the chain.

Tiny Target

For years, an abandoned railroad structure sat dormant — until 2015, that is. This was the year someone decided to paint the Target logo on the building. This small action quickly dubbed the building “Tiny Target.” It sat outside Marathon, Texas, and captured the curiosity of the masses. In fact, if you were to search for the smallest Target, Tiny Target would pop up over and over again.

However, Tiny Target is not a store at all. It does deserve a notable mention, though, as it grew in popularity while promoting the popular brand. Tiny Target was demolished in 2020 and lives on only in the memory of its fans and iconic photos.

Smallest Target Store

Small Target stores are called TargetExpress and there are quite a few across the United States. The smallest one spans only 12,800 feet but still maintains high quality and values consumer experience.

The goal of TargetExpress is to cater to urban residents. They may not have time to walk across the entirety of a superstore. However, with TargetExpress, customers can still pop in, grab what they need, and enjoy the same quality and experience as a regular-sized store.

Location of the Smallest Target Store

The smallest Target store, or TargetExpress, is in Wicker Park, Chicago, Illinois. Smaller locations of this size are also located in San Fransico, California, and St. Paul, Minnesota.

What is the Purpose of a TargetExpress?

According to the Target website, there are 170 small-format stores across the United States. These stores are meant to attract urban residents like college students and empty nesters. A TargetExpress is at least under 15,000 feet but continues to sell the same categories that you would find in a normal-sized store. The selection choices are just a tad bit smaller.

Largest Target Store

Of course, the opposite of a TargetExpress is a Super Target. As the name suggests, it’s a larger than normal store. A typical Target store is around 130,000 square feet. However, the largest store is around 200,000. You can imagine just how spacious the inside of this store is!

These Super Targets still offer the categories that make Target so popular and then some. Super Target aims to offer the same type of customer service but with a more extensive shopping area, more checkout areas, and more options for customers.

Location

There are several Super Target locations around the United States. However, the largest one is in Annapolis, Maryland, with over 200,000 square feet of Target Heaven.

Annapolis, Maryland, has a population of over 40,000 and is considered a college town. The Super Target is great for the community for many reasons. First, it offers a diverse shopping experience, which allows people from all walks of life to enjoy the same discount prices and items. Additionally, the size of the store means more jobs are available, which in turn boosts the economy of Annapolis.

Target Excels in Customer Experience

Whether or not you are a Target fan, not many can say that this popular store doesn’t deliver on its starting goal. This goal was to offer a high-quality customer experience. They wanted to be able to offer discount prices but set the store apart from the typical discount stores that were popular at that time.

The goal was achieved, and 62 years later, the retail chain is still delivering on its promise. Whether you are visiting a normal size, a TargetExpress, or Super Target, you can walk in feeling confident. The store offers categories such as clothing, food, medicine, shoes, dishware, and electronics. These categories make it easy to hit every need in one quick stop.

In Conclusion

If you are in the mood to visit a small Target, take a trip to Wicker Park, Chicago, and step foot in their small 12,800-square-foot store. You will find the same type of items at a significant discount price. Yet, your trip in and out of the store may be quicker than expected, making it perfect for those who are always on the go.

If you love to shop and enjoy the variety of options, try stopping by the 200,000-square-foot Super Target in Annapolis, Maryland. Here, you can take time to shop around and explore all the choices available. Just make sure you clear your schedule because you may find yourself lost in this store for hours.