Target has opened a store in midtown Sacramento. Here’s what’s different about it

Target’s “small format” store in midtown Sacramento opened Thursday.

Months in the making, the store, at 17th and J streets, is the second small format store Target has opened in greater Sacramento, and the 21st in the region overall.

A typical Target measures 130,000 square feet or so. This one clocks in at just 23,000 square feet — but includes a Starbucks and a CVS pharmacy. It employs 50 workers.

The midtown location found favor with customers who dropped by on its first day.

“I actually work around the corner, so it’s really nice having this,” said one customer, Jen Strawn.

“It has groceries and everything we need and now we don’t have to drive to get them,” said midtown resident Kristin Ivanco.

The opening comes as the retail scene in Sacramento struggles to regain its footing after more than a year of COVID-19 stay-at-home orders. Although the region’s overall unemployment rate has fallen to 7.2% — down from a peak of 13.7% last spring — retail employment is still about 2,000 below pre-pandemic levels.

Major retailers have closed for good, including the Nordstrom and Sears stores at Arden Fair mall.

Target officials said the midtown store will hold a grand opening Sunday.

This story was originally published April 15, 2021 at 12:00 PM.