History
1902 our founder George Draper DaytonIn 1881, native New Yorker George D. Dayton decides to explore the growing Midwest markets. After several years in banking and real estate, Dayton decides Minneapolis offers the strongest opportunities for growth. He purchases land on Nicollet Avenue and forms the Dayton Dry Goods Company–today, known as Target Corporation. 1956 Expansion to the Suburbs To meet the needs of busy suburban families, The Dayton Company expands to the suburbs of Minneapolis with the opening of Southdale Mall, the nation's first fully enclosed shopping center. Southdale changes the face of retail in the United States when Dayton's takes the then unheard-of step of placing top competitors together under the same roof. Stores thrive as busy shoppers flock to the mall, and Dayton's follows suit with three more shopping centers over the next 20 years: Brookdale in 1962; Rosedale in 1969; and Ridgedale in 1974; all located within the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. 1962 Creation of an Icon In the months before the first Target store opens its doors, former Dayton's Director of Publicity Stewart K. Widdess, is tasked to name and define the new retail store. Widdess and his staff debate more than 200 possible names. In a burst of red-and-white inspiration, they come up with "Target" and immediately envision a classic Bullseye logo. The reasoning behind the choice was, "As a marksman's goal is to hit the center bulls-eye, the new store would do much the same in terms of retail goods, services, commitment to the community, price, value and overall experience." 1988 Target opens its first stores in the Pacific Northwest. 1995 First Super Target® Store Opens Recognizing that busy shoppers don't always have time to visit several stores in one shopping trip, Target develops the Super Target store to provide guests with the convenience of one-stop shopping. The first Super Target which includes a grocery section with fresh produce, dairy, meat — opens in Omaha, Neb., in 1995. 2000 The Target Weekly Ad makes its first appearance on Target.com. 2001 Market Pantry® Debuts Target introduces its exclusive private label, Market Pantry. 2005 For the first time, Target exceeds $50 billion in annual sales. 2009 Aloha, Hawaii!Target opens its first stores in Hawaii on the islands of Oahu and the Big Island. Long before the doors open, Target embraces the Hawaiian culture by taking part in a native Hawaiian ceremony to bless the land in which the new stores will stand. The store environment and merchandise assortment caters specifically to Hawaiian guests and includes specially printed red Hawaiian shirts and surfboards. 2010 $1 Billion for Education Target announces its goal to give $1 billion for education by the end of 2015. We're on track to reach that number thanks to innovative education programs and partnerships, including our Target School Library Makeovers, book donations and other reading events around the world. 2012 Target and Neiman Marcus Partner Up Target partners with legendary department store Neiman Marcus to create an unprecedented, limited-edition holiday collection. Target + Neiman Marcus features unique items from 24 of America's preeminent designers, all members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). In addition to the collection, Target and Neiman Marcus donate $1 million to the CFDA to underscore the retailers' long-standing commitment to fostering design talent. 2012 Celebrating the Big 5-0 Target celebrates 50 years since its first store opened in 1962 and 110 years since the Dayton's Dry Goods Company—now Target Corporation—was created. To mark this milestone Target hosts a New York City soirée with a guest list that includes noted partners like home-design superstar Nate Berkus, Olympic snowboarder Shaun White and legendary crooner Tony Bennett, as well as Target's official ambassador, Bullseye. 2013 Hello, Canada!In March, we welcome Canadian guests into our first stores north of the border, the culmination of an unprecedented international expansion. Another milestone: with the opening of 124 stores across Canada throughout the year, we mark our largest ever single-year of store openings—even more than our entire first decade of business! Our entry into Canada is achieved by thousands of team members collaborating around the world. 2014 Debut of Target Express The first Target Express, our newest small-format store, opens its doors to guests in July in the Dinkytown neighborhood of Minneapolis. It’s also announced that in 2015, Target Express will come to the San Francisco Bay Area with multiple locations, as well as the Highland Park neighborhood of St. Paul, Minn., to continue catering to urban guests looking to get in and out without the long lines and navigation challenges. These stores will offer everyday essentials and unexpected must-haves as part of an assortment tailored to each neighborhood. |