The company said that it continues to face challenges ‘despite our efforts’ to stop theft at its stores in New York, Washington, California, and Oregon.
Target announced on Tuesday its decision to shutter nine of its stores, across four Democrat-led states, in October, citing escalating safety concerns and unsustainable business performance due to rampant “organized retail crime.”
In a company statement, Target said that it took the decision to close its retail stores “very seriously,” having tried and failed in its efforts to stop theft and safeguard the customer experience and business performance.
The primary cause behind these closures is the pervasive issue of “theft and organized retail crime,” which not only risked the safety of Target’s employees and customers but also eroded the viability of these specific stores, contributing to “unsustainable business performance.”
“We know that our stores serve an important role in their communities, but we can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for all,” the company said in a statement.
Before making its decision, Target said it took extensive measures to counter theft and organized retail crime. This included increasing the number of security team members, employing third-party guard services, and deploying theft-deterrent tools across their business operations.
“Despite our efforts, unfortunately, we continue to face fundamental challenges to operating these stores safely and successfully,” the company stated.
“The team members at these stores have worked hard to maintain our high standards by creating a positive working and shopping experience for each other, our guests, and their communities,” the statement continued. “We are extremely thankful for their efforts and will be partnering closely with all eligible team members to offer them an opportunity to transfer to other Target locations.”
The closures, scheduled for Oct. 21, will affect specific stores in New York, Washington, California, and Oregon.
One store in Harlem, New York, will shutter its doors. Meanwhile, two stores in Seattle, specifically the Seattle University Way and Seattle Ballard branches, are part of the closures.
In California, a trio of locations will be affected: the Pittsburg, San Francisco Folsom, and Oakland Broadway stores. Lastly, the Portland market will see the closure of three locations: the Portland Galleria, Portland Powell, and Portland Hollywood stores.
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