Target Corporation, one of the largest retailers in the United States, has recently announced that it will be closing nine stores located in major cities. Citing concerns of violence and theft, Target has determined that it is in their best interest to close these stores in order to protect both customers and employees.
It is understood that the store closures follow reports of increasing criminal activity in the stores’ surrounding neighborhoods. According to Target, they have documented strong evidence of violence and theft at each store. As a result, they have made the decision to close all of these stores with immediate effect.
In a statement on its website this week, Target acknowledged that this was not an easy decision but that it had concluded that this was the right thing to do for both its customers and employees. “Our top priority is safety and we cannot continue to operate stores in these neighborhoods in a manner that puts our customers and team members at risk,” the statement read.
The store closures come after a difficult year for Target. The company has experienced poor sales as lockdown restrictions have forced shoppers to the internet in search of new items. As such, Target has had to rely on cost-cutting measures like store closures and layoffs to remain afloat.
The nine stores that will be affected by the closures are located in cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, New York City, and Atlanta. All affected employees will be offered positions at other Target locations.
Despite the closure of nine stores, Target remains committed to keeping its other stores open and safely operating. The company has reiterated their commitment to safety and has introduced increased security measures in stores. Target has also stated that they will continue to assess the situation of their stores in major cities and take any necessary steps to ensure the safety of their customers and employees.
