📍 **New York**
* East Harlem — 517 E 117th St
* Portland — 939 SW Morrison St
* Portland — 3031 SE Powell Blvd
* Portland — 4030 NE Halsey St
📍 **Washington**
* Seattle — 4535 University Way NE
* Seattle — 1448 NW Market St ([corporate.target.com][2])
These closures were **driven by challenges specific to those markets**, including safety concerns tied to elevated levels of theft and organized retail crime that made continued operation *unsustainable*, according to company officials. ([corporate.target.com][2])
It’s important to note that this list reflects verified closure announcements from Target’s corporate communications — and *not rumors or social-media posts.* Some online lists may circulate additional addresses, but the only confirmed corporate closures from Target itself are the nine stores cited above.
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## **Why These Target Stores Are Closing**
Target’s official statement made it clear that the decision was *not about cutting costs across the board* — instead, it was a *strategic response to localized challenges*, especially in markets where theft, safety issues, and operating losses made continued business untenable. ([corporate.target.com][2])
### **1. Rising Organized Retail Crime**
Target cited **organized retail crime and sustained theft issues** at the affected locations, stating that these factors threatened the safety of both team members and customers. ([corporate.target.com][2]) This has become a widespread concern affecting many national retailers, especially in large urban centers.
### **2. Unsustainable Business Conditions**
Instead of shuttering underperforming locations uniformly across the chain, Target singled out stores where revenue and safety conditions were particularly unfavorable. CEOs and retail analysts alike have noted that physical stores must justify their operational costs with healthy foot traffic and clear profitability — conditions that were *not met at these select stores*.
### **3. Continued Investment Elsewhere**
Target reaffirmed that it intends to remain committed to all *other* markets where stores are performing well, and that **eligible team members from the closing stores would be offered transfer opportunities**. ([corporate.target.com][2])
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Store closures — even when limited in number — have ripple effects across communities.
### **Loss of Local Access**
In neighborhoods where a Target store served as a primary destination for groceries, home goods, and essentials, closure means customers must travel farther or shift more of their shopping online. This is especially impactful in urban areas where transportation may be limited.
### **Job Reallocations — Not (Mostly) Layoffs**
Target’s official communications stressed that *team members at the closing locations will have opportunities to transfer to other stores* rather than being laid off. ([corporate.target.com][2]) While this can still be disruptive, it’s notably more supportive than mass layoffs.
### **Signal of Broader Retail Shifts**
The closures at Target mirror wider trends across the U.S. retail sector. With more than 8,000 stores shuttered in 2025 alone and another 300 closures expected this year, many retailers are rethinking the role of physical stores in the digital age. ([Xinhua][3])
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## **Ulta Beauty and Target: A Partnership Ending in 2026**
While not a Target store closure per se, another significant development affecting thousands of shoppers is the **ending of the Ulta Beauty shop-in-shop concept** inside Target stores.
Target and cosmetics giant Ulta announced in 2025 that they would **not renew their retail partnership** when it expires in **August 2026**, leading to the closure of **more than 600 Ulta mini-stores located within Target locations**. ([WebProNews][4])
These shop-in-shop boutiques — launched in 2021 to bring a broader range of beauty products into Target’s aisles — will be dismantled over the coming year. While the core Target stores will remain open, the presence of the standalone Ulta areas *will disappear*, changing the shopping experience for beauty enthusiasts who frequent those sections of the store.
The companies have said they plan to ensure a smooth transition and continued product availability through both Target’s and Ulta’s channels until the end of the partnership. ([WebProNews][4])
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## **Is Target Closing More Stores in 2026?**
As of now, **no new corporate announcement has confirmed additional Target store closures beyond the nine listed above** and the scheduled discontinuation of Ulta shop-in-shops.
In early 2026, Target’s leadership has instead emphasized **expansion and transformation**, as the company **plans to open dozens of new stores across 23 states** while investing in enhancements to its existing footprint. ([The Sun][5])
This dual approach suggests that Target is being selective rather than wholesale in its real estate strategy — closing problem locations while simultaneously expanding into new markets where demand remains strong.
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## **The Larger Retail Landscape: A Changing Shopping World**
Target is not alone in this environment. A broad shift in how Americans shop — accelerated by e-commerce growth, rising operational costs, economic pressures, and shifting consumer preferences — has forced many national retailers to close stores in recent years. ([Xinhua][3])
Some examples of broader trends include:
* Macy’s planning ongoing closures as part of a long-term restructuring. ([Kiplinger][6])
* Other chains like Kroger and Saks Off 5th announcing store shutdowns as part of portfolio realignments. ([Business Insider][1])
* Overall U.S. retail closures projected to remain elevated as brands optimize resources and adjust to a digital-centric retail environment. ([Forbes][7])
In this context, Target’s measured approach — closing a handful of underperforming stores while growing in priority markets — is typical of many national retailers seeking a sustainable foothold in a changing market.
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## **What Shoppers Should Know**
Here’s what you should keep in mind if you’re a Target customer affected by these changes:
### **✔ The Closures Don’t Affect All Targets**
Only the nine stores announced in 2023 — mostly in specific West Coast and New York City markets — are confirmed to have closed or will be closing as scheduled. There’s no indication of a broader shutdown across Target’s network.
### **✔ Rewards and Shopping Experience**
Target’s loyalty programs, online services, and other locations remain unaffected. Most shoppers will likely continue shopping at nearby stores or through Target’s online channels.
### **✔ Ulta Displays Are Set to Go**
If you shop at a Target that currently houses an Ulta Beauty section, be aware that those spaces will be phased out by **August 2026** as the partnership ends.
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## **Final Thoughts: Navigating Change in Retail**
The retail world is in transition. Amid broader trends of closures and shifting consumer behavior, Target’s selected store closures reflect targeted responses to unique challenges — not a mass retreat from physical retail. While closures are never easy for the communities and workers involved, Target’s broader strategy still includes **growth and evolution**, even as it manages pressures facing the entire industry.
As stores continue to adapt to the digital age, customers can expect the retail experience — both in-store and online — to keep changing in ways that reflect where and how people want to shop.
If you’d like, I can also create:
* a **map of the confirmed closure locations**
* a breakdown of **how the Ulta closures will roll out**
* or a summary of **other major retailers planning closures in 2026**
Just let me know!
[1]: https://www.businessinsider.com/stores-closing-in-2026-list?utm_source=chatgpt.com “More than 300 stores are set to close across the US in 2026. Here’s the list.”
[2]: https://corporate.target.com/press/statement/2023/09/target-closes-select-stores-to-prioritize-team-member-and-guest-safety?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Target Closes Select Stores to Prioritize Team Member and …”
[3]: https://english.news.cn/northamerica/20260103/e19242dde96f4476888399904b0849b9/c.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Economic Watch: U.S. retailers see 8,200 closures in 2025 amid tariffs, debt pressures”
[4]: https://www.webpronews.com/ulta-beauty-and-target-end-partnership-closing-600-stores-in-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Ulta Beauty and Target End Partnership, Closing 600+ Stores in 2026”
[5]: https://www.the-sun.com/money/15761416/target-confirms-new-stores-texas-florida-openings/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Target confirms wave of at least 48 new store openings in 2026 – see if there will be a location near you”
[6]: https://www.kiplinger.com/personal-finance/shopping/macys-closing-stores-2025-locations-is-yours-one?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Is Your Macy’s Closing? See the 2026 Store Closure List”
[7]: https://www.forbes.com/sites/pamdanziger/2025/01/30/retail-apocalypse-well-over-twice-as-many-stores-will-close–as-open-in-2025/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Twice As Many Stores In The U.S. Are Expected To Close In 2025”
