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Target Finally Signs at 7+Fig

By Eric Richardson
Published: Wednesday, November 03, 2010, at 01:55PM
7+Fig Eric Richardson []

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Downtown's long Target waiting game finally has an end date. The retailer this week finalized an agreement with Brookfield Properties that will bring a roughly 100,000 square foot store to the 7+Fig shopping complex in 2012.

UPDATE (Thursday, 11:30am): More details on the new store were announced Thursday morning at a press conference and lease signing attended by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilwoman Jan Perry.

The news .

The 7+Fig complex opened in 1986 with a pair of department stores as anchors, but the departure of Bullock's in 1997 and Macy's in early 2009 left it with approximately 200,000 square feet of vacancy.

According to the Times, the Target store will be built on one floor, spread across space formerly occupied by the two department stores.

That space would most likely be on the complex's ground level, even with Figueroa Street.

At 100,000 square feet, the store would be nearly 1/3 smaller than typical Targets.

The parking garage connected to the complex contains nearly 1,600 spaces.

More to come.

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Conversation

Eric Wang on November 03, 2010, at 01:58PM – #1

This is great, and congrats to the dealmakers. Hoping that the commitment stays strong and true.


User_32

on November 03, 2010, at 02:41PM – #2

This is great news!


Guest 1

Guest on November 03, 2010, at 02:54PM – #3

oh god, i think i just came in my pants a bit from excitement..


Guest 2

Guest on November 03, 2010, at 02:59PM – #4

I don't go to Target since there's only so much crap my apartment can hold and I've already filled it with enough junk, but I can see how this is the momentum DTLA needs to attract other retailers, and it's a huge step forward for the neighborhood. Congrats to 7+Fig, I know you guys work REALLY hard over there even in the face of significant challenges, and it's paid off!


User_32

Ken Hall on November 03, 2010, at 03:00PM – #5

Yes, I just had a Target orgasim myself....this is such great news...HURRAY!!!!!


Guest 3

Guest on November 03, 2010, at 03:03PM – #6

This is great news!! Very exciting for Downtown!!


Stephanie Magnien Rockwell on November 03, 2010, at 04:30PM – #7

Hooray!


User_32

J-M on November 03, 2010, at 05:28PM – #8

This is the tipping point we've been waiting for. I can't believe how long it's taken Target to commit, but their entrance will convince other big box stores to take the leap as well (maybe spread out along the Figueroa Corridor as well so Downtown can preserve some of its character). The Fall of 2012 seems a long way away, but in the meantime congratulations to Target and the Downtown community!


Jamie DeFrisco on November 03, 2010, at 05:56PM – #9

I am excited for Target to be coming downtown..although I am bothered by the company supporting political figures that are anti-gay advocates.


Guest 4

Guest on November 03, 2010, at 06:19PM – #10

When Macy's departed, it left 3 floors of vacant space - it's great that Target is going to use one of them, but are there any plans for the other 2? The mall is currently about 70% vacant, so Target's arrival will only resolve a small portion of that. Also, about 1/2 of the current occupants are getting kicked out at the end of this year for renovations - so more news on what's planned would be great.


Guest 5

Guest on November 03, 2010, at 06:30PM – #11

Target supports anti gay candidates? Do you mean President Obama. If you remember, Obama said during his campaign, that he believed marriage was between a man and a women. Weird how prop 8 passed and a large african american population in California voted for it. Obama could have helped beat that proposition, but his stance clearly hurt here in California. The President also won't do anything about Don't Ask, Don't Tell.


Guest 6

Guest on November 03, 2010, at 07:24PM – #12

I think it's great that DTLA got a big box, but seriously, guest #5 is right about Target. They're anti-Gay bigots. Celebrate for DTLA, but don't shop there.


Guest 7

Guest on November 03, 2010, at 08:00PM – #13

Thank you, Target, for making my day. Good bye West L.A., may I never need to see your ugly face again.


Simon Ha on November 03, 2010, at 09:03PM – #14

2012? I wish it was sooner.


Scott Mercer on November 03, 2010, at 10:28PM – #15

Hosanna!

The long march to Downtown credibility is almost at an end.

Ralphs, now Target, just need a Trader Joe's and the complaints about Downtown retail will finally simmer down to a tolerable level...


Guest 8

Guest on November 03, 2010, at 11:17PM – #16

Speaking of attracting more big name retailers. Has anyone ever heard talk or rumor about Old Navy? With it's prices, it seems like a good starter clothing chain for downtown. Maybe even on Broadway. I've been to the Old Navy in Union Square in SF and love the design of the store and it could easily be incorporated into one of downtowns empty department stores.


User_32

bill on November 04, 2010, at 07:56AM – #17

Last year this would have been good news. But since Target funded $150,000 a political candidate who supports the eradication of gays, and then did nothing to mitigate their action, I can't and won't support them. Human Rights Campaign worked with them to get them to make an equal contribution to a gay-supporting organization or candidate and Target refused. Yep, they refused. They clearly stand behind their anti-gay stance, so I won't be going to Target. I'll be supporting other non-Target downtown businesses.


User_32

Vero Queero on November 04, 2010, at 08:26AM – #18

On Facebook, a friend of mine posted that he was headed to Gold's Gym. I reminded him of their anti-gay political funding and he replied,"I work out there, I don't vote there". I'm going to take that attitude with Target--I don't knock your choice to boycott but I will not, please don't try to make me feel guilty about it either. I will continue to send them e-mails about how I (we?) feel though, and I suggest everyone do the same. It's a stance that can be changed.


Chris Loos on November 04, 2010, at 10:06AM – #19

Not taking sides here, but just curious how many people that say now they'll be boycotting the downtown Target will wind up shopping there anyway. Convenience trumps a lot of things, and this Target stands to make living Downtown a lot more convenient.


User_32

Downtown Cowboy on November 04, 2010, at 10:08AM – #20

Of course anyone has the right to shop anywhere. It is a personal choice for me to not give my money to a business who then turns around and uses that money to fund politicians who believe I should have no rights and would rather see all gays eradicated. The Human Rights Fund used to list Target on their list of companies who supported human rights. They have since removed Target from the list.
Target was asked to make a similar donation to any gay-centered organization to diffuse the outrage created when they supported Tom Emmer, and they refused. I don't care how condescendingly nice they are to their token gay employees, the fact they fund hate precludes me from ever supporting their downtown store. Support locally owned businesses instead. The money then stays in the community rather being sent back to Bible-belt midwest.


Guest 9

Guest on November 04, 2010, at 10:31AM – #21

When Target Corporation decided to put down $150,000 to support a Republican candidate for governor in Minnesota, the company really dug itself into a hole. Why? Because that candidate, Tom Emmer, is well known for taking positions that make him one of the most anti-gay political candidates in the country.

On his Web site, Tom Emmer makes it clear. "I believe marriage is the union between one man and one woman. As a legislator, I have consistently supported the constitutional marriage amendment that protects traditional marriage," Emmer says.

But what Emmer doesn't say on his Web site is that as a state legislator in Minnesota, he also worked hard to try and restrict surrogacy to husband and wife couples only. During debate on a bill that discussed contractual arrangements for surrogate mothers, Emmer inserted an amendment that would have prevented gay and lesbian couples, as well as unmarried heterosexual couples, from using a surrogate mother.

The amendment was defeated. But Emmer's position on LGBT families couldn't have been made more clearly. He underscored his support for keeping gay and lesbian couples from using surrogate mothers by saying, "The whole purpose behind this legislation is people, husbands and wives who are not able to conceive children."

Tom Emmer: against gay marriage, against gays and lesbians parenting children, and friends with a Christian ministry that has advocated violent and discriminatory actions against the LGBT community. He's also Target's candidate of choice for Governor.


Guest 5

Guest on November 04, 2010, at 10:33AM – #22

I think Guest #5 makes an interesting point. We voted for Obama and he turned his back on our causes. He's done nothing about "don't ask, don't tell", and I too think he could have helped defeat prop 8. I'm tired of being used!!! Even @#$@ing Dick Chaney believes we should be allowed to marry who we want.


Friskie Buffet on November 04, 2010, at 10:53AM – #23

I have mixed feelings about this. I'd rather see Target on Broadway in a refurbished historic building, with display windows on the street level--not safely tucked away inside some mall/hole in the ground.


User_32

VN76luAw0dg2Sc9 on November 04, 2010, at 11:07AM – #24

i want walmart


User_32

Tony Hoover on November 04, 2010, at 11:10AM – #25

This is great news for Downtown LA! I'm sure now that Target has decided to open, other "main stream" stores will finally make the decision to follow them.

I think it's important that Downtown has a "healthy mix" of both local stores as well as the main stream retail brands. This is important especially for tourism and convention business, which is important all businesses in Downtown. Tourists and conventioneers certainly enjoy shopping "locally" but they also want the value and convenience offered by the national brands. If a tourist were to buy some kinds of "necessities" or gifts at a local store and find out its the wrong size or wrong color they cannot return it, but they can from a national brand. Having the convenience of national brands in Downtown will also translate to business for local stores because they will keep the customer in Downtown.

Also people seem to be fogetting...yes, money from purchases may go back to the retailer's headquarters BUT the sales taxes stay here and also the jobs stay here. We need these retailers to help bolster the job market and help give confidence to local businesses to continue expanding in Downtown LA.


User_32

Downtown Cowboy on November 04, 2010, at 11:15AM – #26

Guest #9 - very eloquently said.


User_32

on November 04, 2010, at 11:25AM – #27

For every $100 spent in locally-owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that on a national chain, only $43 stays here.

http://www.the350project.net/home.html


User_32

weecyn on November 04, 2010, at 12:19PM – #28

OK, here's the deal with Target and gay people. Yes, they funded that d-bag's reelection. Yes, that sucked. But understand that the Republican candidate is often the pro-business candidate. They probably failed to do their homework. You have every right to call them on their poor judgment in that case, but no right to label the whole company as gay-hating bigots. Target is one of the only major retailers to give its gay employees the same spousal benefits as its straight ones. Also, they have been major donors to gay pride events in the past. Before this incident, the Human Rights Campaign gave Target a 100% rating for its LGBT policies and practices. Target took a lot of well-deserved flak and has since apologized. I can't find any evidence that this was more than a single lapse of judgment.

Take your broad-stroke boycott brush and shove it. Look into the situation a bit before you start parroting media headlines. The situation is more nuanced.


Eric Wang on November 04, 2010, at 01:20PM – #29

@weecyn - Very well stated. Brookfield's and Target's announcement yesterday and today is about developing an area that has been practically empty since the 1990s. Target is presenting an opportunity here, one for jobs, growth, and increasing the variety things that our downtown has to offer. I really hope people can focus and see that.


User_32

Downtown Cowboy on November 04, 2010, at 01:58PM – #30

Ok weecyn - so in the interest of promoting favorable conditions for business it would be ok to support someone whose policies violate the human rights of people? By that reasoning Hilter should be lauded because he made the trains run on time. Target has not apologized for their support of Emmer. Quote from HRC's site: "After two weeks of good-faith discussions – and two tentative agreements – with Target Corporation, the company has informed the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization, that it will take no corrective actions to repair the harm that it caused by contributing $150,000 to an organization supporting a vehemently anti-gay candidate closely associated with a Christian rock band that advocates death and violence to gay people." I don't care if it's about jews, women or gays, but stepping on someone's human rights is never ok.


Guest 6

Guest on November 04, 2010, at 02:38PM – #31

@weecyn-"here's the deal with Target and gay people"...are you serious? please take your apologist diatribe and shove it. Nobody is parroting media headlines, they are stating a fact. You can call argue how "nuanced" the situation is till the cows come home, but the only reason Target backpedaled on Emmer was because of the massive outcry. And Target only apologized to their employees for the trouble the blowback caused them, not to the LGBT community for financially supporting Emmer's vile attitude. So why don't you do your homework next time.


Guest 10

Guest on November 04, 2010, at 04:56PM – #32

This is EXACTLY the time that people should be making a fuss. exactly when the spotlight is ON---NOW is the perfect time to let the DT community and the corp. headquarters know that people are NOT ok with this. this is truly the AMERICAN WAY...if we were in China or Russia protests would not only NOT be allowed but people would be thrown in prison for daring to speak out.

i seem to remember a few years ago when the new "Our Lady of the Angeles" Catholic Church opened DT on Temple---everyone was so happy for the opening, good press and new priest in town.....well...things didnt go as planned...with the spoghtlight literally on, who showed up at the opening ceremonies were many formerly abused Catholics who were organized and protesting (systematicly and strategically). they got attention and much of it had to do with the "timing" of the new opening. since then stepts have been taken to heal.

i see a potential corolation.


Guest 11

Guest on November 05, 2010, at 09:22AM – #33

Certain people are in a huff about Target and some politician in Minnesota while ignoring the self-destructive meaning of the following?:

A data analysis released today [March 10, 2010] by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention underscores the disproportionate impact of HIV and syphilis among gay and bisexual men in the United States.

The data, presented at CDC's 2010 National STD Prevention Conference, finds that the rate of new HIV diagnoses among men who have sex with men (MSM) is more than 44 times that of other men and more than 40 times that of women.

The rate of primary and secondary syphilis among MSM is more than 46 times that of other men and more than 71 times that of women, the analysis says.

I bet the people so resentful about Target would have been the same types in 1912 to berate passengers on the SS Titanic for speaking too loudly and not being friendly enough.

Shakespeare: "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves..."


Guest 6

Guest on November 05, 2010, at 12:40PM – #34

@guest #11-your point is inane, but thanks for coming out of the woodwork and exposing the real attitude that lies behind all of the Target apologists.


John Swartz on November 05, 2010, at 04:04PM – #35

This is great! A discount retailer, without the "big box" aspect! I hope it stays open late like the other Targets.


Jamie DeFrisco on November 05, 2010, at 05:04PM – #36

As I already said I feel bothered by the fact by Targets actions or lack of it. However I do understand why they might not want to contribute to a pro-gay organization. It could cause a backlash within the anti-gay community against Target. It still doesn't change the fact that they made this type of donation in the first place.

I don't think they were intentionally supporting an anti-gay politician. The fact that they money they spent is going to spread more hate is hurtful.


User_32

Raymond3000 on November 09, 2010, at 04:12PM – #37

I wonder if this location could possibly become a 24 hour store to serve downtowners needs all day and night! or would they fear homeless people camping out in their stores too much? either way Congratulations Downtown LA!


User_32

John Adlai () on November 11, 2010, at 01:26PM – #38

Dammit Beavis, it's pronounced "Tarrrr-gheyyy"



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