Target Announces Fall Expansion with 8 New Stores and Over 2,000 Jobs

Target is gearing up for a busy autumn. Eight brand‑new stores will swing open their doors between October and early November, bringing the retailer’s total openings for 2026 up to 32. It’s a chunk of the giant $5 billion capital‑investment plan the chain unveiled for this year.

The fresh locations are scattered across Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Specifically, shoppers can look forward to new Target stores in Bridgehampton, N.Y.; Cookeville, Tenn.; Fort Worth’s Chisholm Trail, TX; Katy Heritage, TX; Liberty Hill, TX; Lima, Ohio; Norfolk’s Wards Corner, VA; and Tupelo, Miss.

Seven of the eight sites will be larger than Target’s typical 125,000‑square‑foot footprint, underscoring the company’s push toward bigger‑format stores that can showcase a wider assortment and more experiential spaces. The lone smaller store still follows the same playbook: a clean layout, easy navigation, and a focus on the everyday essentials that keep customers coming back.

Beyond square footage, the rollout is a jobs bonanza. Target estimates more than 2,000 new positions will be created, with starting pay ranging from $15 to $24 an hour. Every role comes with the usual package of benefits, plus tuition‑free education assistance—an effort to give associates a clear pathway to advancement.

"These new stores represent our continued investment in the places our guests live, work and shop," said Laurie Mahowald, senior vice president of Target Properties. She added that the $5 billion budget not only funds fresh doors and remodels—over 130 this year—but also pours money into pay raises and training programs.

Chief Stores Officer Adrienne Costanzo echoed that sentiment, noting that the expansion is as much about community presence as it is about retail real‑estate. "Our continued commitment to opening new stores is really about showing up for our guests and our communities — and it starts with our incredible store team members," she said.

Target’s larger‑format push is also a tech story. New stores will be equipped with upgraded checkout lanes, curbside pickup hubs, and expanded inventory‑management tools that let employees restock shelves faster and keep the aisles tidy.

Most of the locations are slated to welcome shoppers on Oct. 11, while the Lima, Ohio store will open a few weeks later on Nov. 8. As the doors swing open, Target hopes the blend of bigger spaces, new tech, and a robust workforce will keep the brand feeling fresh and relevant in neighborhoods across the country.