So our Target opened early—and while I was out of town—but I had the chance to check it out over the weekend. I know readers have already begun commenting about it, so here's my own take. I think it's great to have the new Target store within walking distance. Yes, I agree, they need to fine tune some of what they carry a bit better to our neighborhood, but for now, I'll take it! No more schlepping onto the R train for my cheap supersize boxes of toilet paper and garbage bags anymore. And... I can pick up my printer paper at the same time, and cheap picture frames! The list goes on and on... it is just a great addition that really enhances the shopping available within walking distance in our neighborhood. And that is how it should be. This is New York City. You shouldn't have to jump into a car—especially if you don't own one, like myself—to have access to the larger and cheaper sizes that a major retailer like Target offers.
I'd love it if they added an aisle for books since we lost that when they took over the Barnes & Noble space. In fact, one friend of mine suggests they do away with the clothing altogether and use that space for other stuff we need more of here in the Hills.
I personally love the grocery section as well. It immediately surpasses some of the other supermarkets in our area in terms of cleanliness, quality and product selection (love their private label organics, for instance.)
So, there you have my take on it. What do you think? Here's some pics I took. And, by the way, I absolutely love the renovated Starbucks there as well.
By the way, before anyone complains about the fact that they took over Barnes & Noble, I know some folks are actively trying to open a small neighborhood bookshop somewhere in our area. If they don't manage to do it, someone else will soon. There's a huge market for real books in Forest Hills. HUGE! And someone will take over one of the available smaller spaces on Austin or Queens Blvd. or one of the nearby side streets soon to fill it.
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| The new Target has brought the pedestrian traffic, and with it the need for a traffic cop |
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| The new Target's grocery section, strategically located on the second floor so you have plenty of chance to impulse buy along the way! |
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| The inside of the renovated Starbucks |
Groceries are on the 2nd floor? That seems like kind of a weird choice.
ReplyDeleteBut I couldn't be happier about the renovated Starbucks. It's been years since I was able to get a seat in there! Eventually I just stopped trying.
I agree the general choice of products is mostly right except for the clothing. There doesn't really seem to be enough room for it.
ReplyDeleteTarget is a vary bad thing for our Community but what does the land lord Joshua L. Muss care so long as he gets paid. Target made 4.8 Billon last year. Nothing could be better than to have a tenant who pays his rent on time and in full. The only problem is us. Do we need a Target? How can this be? There is no other Target in NYC except the one in Forest Hills. Did Target some how side step the law here? Did Muss Development side step the law or make a deal? How can this be? This Target stinks from it's conception to the display of garbage on it's shelves. 90% of Target products can be purchased at other stores in Forest Hills. There really is no reason for this place to exist here unless you want to give Target or the greedy land lord who put Barns and Nobel out of business Joshua L. Muss more money. Do your self and the world a favor, try to stop relying on corporate goods. This is our real vote that actually counts. This election is meaningless. No change will come. Real change will come by putting an end to corporate greed. Just like we boycotted the British Tea we shall do so starting with StarBucks.
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to post an angry rant, the least you can do is try to get your facts straight. There are already several other Target stores in NYC, including one right here in Queens on Queens Boulevard at the Grand Avenue/Newtown subway stop. And it is simply not true that 90% of Target's products can be purchased at other stores in Forest Hills. Forest Hills has not had a housewares store since Laytners closed a few years ago. Housewares (towels, sheets, dishes, pots and pans, small appliances) are a big section of the new Target store. Forest Hills has also not had an office supplies store since the Staples closed. The new Target sells office supplies (printer toner, printer paper, pens, office equipment, etc.). Also, even if some of Target's products can be purchased at other stores in Forest Hills, Target often has lower prices for the same items that are available at other stores (supermarkets and drug stores).
DeleteIn my opinion, the new Target is a great addition to the neighborhood. As Drake has said, the store provides a convenient location for FH residents who don't own cars to be able to buy larger sizes of certain products that were not available in Forest Hills before Target opened.
FH Guy, you're rant sounds just as angry. That kind of tone will only increase the amount of angry rants on here. Please don't take this the wrong way. I love this board. You responded angrily to me awhile back on the topic of bike lanes, please let's all be civil to one another in here. Besides, R. Dress is very good looking, so let's let it slide that he misspoke about this being the only Target in the city.
DeleteWhat laws are you referring to, R. Dress?
DeleteWow, this is one of the most ill-informed comments I have read here in a while. I really shouldn't bother, but I guess I will go ahead and tackle this line by line.
Delete- You didn't really explain why this is bad for the community.
- The landlord makes more money when the tenant he leases to is accepted, welcomed, and needed by the community. The landlord's interests are aligned with ours. Furthermore, he is a businessman and he is entitled to try to maximize profits.
- What does Target making $4.8B last year have to do with anything? You do animation/visual arts? I am sure you use Apple computers. They are the biggest "greedy corporation" in the world. If your MO is rely to stop people from relying on corporate goods, you should really take a look in the mirror and accept your hypocrisy.
- There aren't any laws preventing Target from opening stores in the city, nor should there be. The barrier to entry is the cost of renting such a large amount of space in NYC. This smaller format mitigates some of that.
- Most of the products sold at Target are either not available in other local stores but needed or are the same as other stores in FH but cheaper. The only store that should be worried about losing business is Duane Reade and Rite Aid, who I am sure you loathe anyway. By the way, there is an entire aisle of art supplies in the back left corner of the first floor that may interest you.
- To continue on that same point, there IS a big reason for this Target to be here. FH is changing. There are more and more young families moving here all the time. People who would like access to diapers and formula at hugely cheaper prices than anywhere else, within walking distance.
- The greedy landlord didn't put Barnes & Noble out of business, the internet did. The landlord should be tenanting his buildings with businesses that are able to pay market rent. Again, he is running a business, not a charity.\
- I assume that what you were trying to say about the election and voting is that we should vote with our wallet? Well, the wallets are speaking and they are voting for Target being a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
- Good luck with your Starbucks boycott. I suggest a passive boycott, not one staged outside of the store. It would be hard to distinguish you from the street corner derelicts also ranting on about corporate greed. But I suppose your hipster uniform would give you away.
Groceries should be on the 1st floor!
ReplyDeleteHaven't been over there yet and I respect your point about the convenience of having such a store in walking distance, but isn't increased vehicular traffic and adequate area parking also a concern?
ReplyDeleteI went there the day after they opened just out of curiosity. I never shop at Target and generally try to avoid big box retail stores as they remind me of a very suburban existence. With that said, I think anyone who is used to a full size Target would find this inadequate. Take cleaning products for instance, if you're someone who is used to the many varieties of detergents you might find at a regular Target, the cleaning aisle at this new store looks like the kind of selection you would find at Rite Aid. The whole stole in general seems like a slightly more developed Rite Aid that also sells cheap clothing and some groceries. The whole idea of one stop shopping is very suburban and could kill a place like Austin St, well I think it already is in many ways. This is why I am so appreciative of what we do have and buy almost everything local - Boulangerie, Cheeses of the World, etc..; please don't start buying cheese at Target!
ReplyDeleteDon't worry. I can't see any respectable New Yorker buying their cheese at Target. :)
DeleteI don't think Target is much of a threat to good places like Boulangerie. Moreso a threat to the pharmacies, though, with their pricing. I agree that the selection is a bit disappointing. On both of my visits I have suggested they get rid of the apparel and beef up the other areas. And add books.
DeleteJust to give people a heads up with Target, their prices are not always the same as their big stores. As an example I bought a big jar of nuts in College Point this week for $13.00 and change on sale and they were running a sale on the same jar of nuts for $16.00 and change at our Forest Hills store.
ReplyDeleteI believe it. The rent on Austin compared to the big box retail strip in College Point must be astronomical. I guess they need to make up the difference somewhere. I would have been so much happier with the rumored Whole Foods, especially since we already have a full sized Target so close anyways. Not to disrespect my toilet paper lugging friends out there! :-)
DeleteI found some of the things I normally buy were available and still cheap. Just as an example, Gold Bond Body Spray was the usual ~$6.50 there compared to $10.50 at Duane Reade. But a lot of items normally on my list were not there. So, like usual, I still have to stop at 3-4 different stores to complete one weekly grocery/supply run.
DeleteAgree that the groceries should be on the ground level. I understand the concept of putting necessities like milk in the back of the store to get you to browse (like supermarkets do), but its a little crazy to have to walk to the middle of the store, take an escalator, go to the back for food, and take the escalator back down again just to pay for a gallon of milk. I guess its not made for that kind of shopping, but I'd be more inclined for a quick grab and go if it were at least on the same level.
ReplyDeleteI hope you're right about the bookstore thing. You seem very confident, and I like that; I just wish I shared your confidence...
ReplyDeleteI have been checking this blog regularly and dna.info (once a week) for almost a year now. Moved here 2 years ago with my then boyfriend (married now), and wanted to know more about what F.H had to offer as we mostly hangout in Manhattan or BK. I'm originally from LI (but been living in Queens since 18) and he is from Germany (where we met) and we chose to live here cause its so convenient for us to get to work, but also not too far from my family. Anyway, the point of my post is not to give a back story on my personal life, but to say that I have notice that a lot of people commenting here assume that everyone in F.H is as well adjusted as they are. We are both in our early 20's, right out of college, and at the beginning of our career, which means a paycheck to paycheck kind of life. So yes, when I barely have enough for rent and bills and everything else, YES, i will buy my cheese at Target, or Key Food, or C-Town. There gouda, and mozzarella are friendlier to the wallet and make great grilled cheese sandwiches! I am sorry, but not all of us make 85k/year and can afford Mr Vino's Cucina (went there once and walked right out cause those prices scared me straight) or the overpriced restaurants around here. On special occasions I understand that yes, we can make the effort in supporting our local shops/restos, but on the regular everyday living, that is just not where we are yet. So please don't make the rest of us with just $100 in our bank acct til next paycheck feel bad over being at the starting point of our careers. I predict there will be more of me coming to F.H as time goes by, so please don't have that bougie attitude that will just lead in F.H being called a big bore. Also, FH.Guy above pointing out that there are in fact many other Targets in NYC (Flushing, Harlem, Flatbush etc) is not rude or aggressive at all, its just stating FACTS.
ReplyDeleteVery well said, sm. There is absolutely NO shame in purchasing food items from Target, Keyfood, et al.
DeleteWe all decide where we choose to splurge and I well remember the time when my splurge was on rent!
Back then I learned to do miraculous things with macaroni and canned tuna :)
BTW, I'm such a food snob that I mail order my Olive Oil so I can get the brands I want. Know where I'm headed this afternoon? Target. I noticed they have Laura's Lean Beef Ground Sirloin. Happy to have a place where I can now find that locally!!
I agree with comments made in regards to the layout. Being that this is an Urban TargetExpress, it would've made much more sense for the Market and Pharmacy to be on the lower level -- where people can hop in and grab necessities.
Oh, and btw, these TargetExpress stores have planned openings in locations such as
- Long Beach, CA
- Brooklyn, NY
- Brookline, MA
- Cupertino, CA
- Cambridge, MA
Not too shabby.
There is also an Urban TargetExpress scheduled to open soon in TriBeCa--not too shabby either.
DeleteAnd sm, thanks for pointing out that I was simply stating the facts and that my comment was not angry or a rant. I didn't see the need to respond to the person who said these things about my previous comment because he/she was obviously trying to start an argument, which I have no interest in.
Welcome to the hood, sm!
DeleteSusan - To allow myself to go totally off on a tangent. When I was a waiter at a very popular fancy restaurant in Manhattan about 15 years ago, the had awesome olive oil with a nice, grassy finish. I always had that olive oil in the back of my mind. Fast forward to 4 years ago, I finally saw that olive oil for sale - at Natural Market. I was even more surprised to see that it was one of the least expensive olive oils on the shelf, given it's fancy neighbors. You should give it a try and let me know what you think. It's Iliada olive oil and it costs $8.99 for a 750ml bottle. GMO free and all that.
Thanks for the tip! I'm going to give it a try, too! I've always felt that the Natural had a great cross selection of products.
Deletesm - I'm glad you are making choices with your money in order to survive instead of racking up credit card debt in order to live a life segments of society expect but you currently cannot afford. I make north of the 85k you mentioned but still choose to shop at Key Food and Yellowstone Farm (great, cheap produce market near the 67th subway station). I could afford Mr Vino, but I choose to save money for retirement, an emergency fund, and travel instead.
DeleteFor those that need toilet paper but don't have a car - there is an app for that - uber!!! Or amazon prime. This target store is crappy - not enough of anything to really make sense to go there and in many cases prices are higher than rite aid or aforementiomed amazon. I was hoping they would carry some of the green cleaning supplies but no luck. And for that person complaining that they don't make enough to live here, get another job or move to a more affordable area so that you can have a reasonable standard of living. We don't need $1 or big box stores here, they will only bring the feel of the neighbourhood down. Not saying we need Sacks, but let's make it actually enjoyable to live here by supporting creative mom and pop shops that make an attempt of doing business like Keuka or Vanilla Sky or Cheeses of the World. And yes, that includes reasonably priced Mr. Vino.
ReplyDeleteNew York is and always will be primarily a pedestrian city. Being able to get somewhere on foot is an enormous selling point. Besides, not everyone can afford to hire an uber just so they can go buy toilet paper and paper towels. There are people living in Fohi who have been here for decades, who have built lives here and who are surviving on pensions and fixed incomes. Why should they have to leave?
DeleteAlso, I think you mean "Saks" as in "Saks 5th Ave."? And Vanilla Sky is terrible.
I agree completely! Like someone else on here noted, the cleaning aisle for instance, looked pretty comparable to Rite Aid. I appreciate your 'tell it like it is' attitude (11:25 pm poster). As many posters here have pointed out on plenty of threads, the neighborhood is striving to become a bit trendier and housing prices reflect that - which should be seen as a positive for all of us. Why would we want to go in the direction of cheap, generic, big box stores? The neighborhood would lose great charm. Let's get out and support our local mom and pop shops!
DeleteOveralln happy about having a Target, but can say was a little disappointed with their selection. Given the amt of space they are working with, I understand, but it definitely doesnt replace the need to go to a full sized store.
ReplyDeleteOn the whole, its a duane reed on steriods. The food section is definitely nice, though.
Agree completely Tim! The whole store has that "neither here nor there" feel. It doesn't have enough selection/variety to replace any of the stores it's trying to be: supermarket, drug store, clothing, housewares, electronics, etc and as many pointed out, the prices aren't that spectacular to go just for one or two things.
Deleteagree!
DeleteHmmm, I was liking you until you decided for me what I will and will not post, which I do not like
ReplyDeleteThis is not the same anonymous poster you are replying to SM, but please try not to use such language on here. It really sets a bad tone. I'm sorry that other poster gave you suggestions you didn't like, but that's no excuse to use such language on a public forum.
ReplyDeleteHey hey! sorry for that. I wrote the last comment while not being able to fall asleep last night. Wasn't sure if calling that anonymous a childish and ignorant idiot(which he has proven HE IS) would get posted and jumped to conclusions. All I could hear in my head at the time (in that Arbys commercials accent) was 'what part of starting point of our career do you not understand?!?' Its called having variety, and I am ALL for that. No one is judging him/her for being able to now afford the nicer things in life. Those of us who can't yet, or can no longer (seniors) should not be judged for trying to stretch our bucks either. Anyway, keep informing and entertaining us! PS: if it was not for this blog and dna, hubby and I would not have known there is a stadium here! Looking forward to seeing all the positive changes that are to come to F.H!
ReplyDeleteRight on, sm! (And your language didn't offend me at all, btw.)
ReplyDeleteHey ANON a few paragraphs above, he or she didn't offer suggestions, just passed on judgement, and there is a major difference. Besides, its not like I was cursing or anything here. Just again, stating what I see as FACTS. It always amazes me when I encounter people that seem to forget what it was like before they 'made' it. He/she suggested that I get another job. I guess he/she failed to comprehend that it would also be at an entry level regardless of the job itself. At the end of the day, everyone neighborhood is going to be diverse, some of us are going to be established, some of us retired, and some of us are going to be at the start of our careers. A neighborhood should have resources for either or. Even on the UES on Madison Ave there are bodegas and delis catering to those who just work there, but don't live there. Point is, no one should ever suggest that someone else should have to leave their neighborhood just because they don't fit his or her ideal.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I do agree that the selection at Target could be a little bit better, and that its inconvenient to have the groceries and such on the second floor. Having worked retail in the past, I can bet that they are still figuring out the format of the store. I am sure in a few months time some of the merchandise available right now will get scrapped and replaced according to the need of the neighborhood, and what is selling.
I hate it. It's a waste. I personally do not feel like it's a good fit for Austin Street. The array of merchandise is strange. Not really enough selection of anything or maybe it's just not the kind of stuff I'm looking for. It should have been a specialty Target of sorts that sells all their designer collaboration items like...Nate Berkus, Jason Wu, Kate Spade, Toms...and who can forget their collaboration with Missoni, and their recent collaboration with Marimekko. That would make it a destination instead of a small *hitty Target.
ReplyDelete