Target In Bethel Plans Expansion

BETHEL, CT — A proposal by retailer Target to expand its 7 Stony Hill Road store is encountering some turbulence.

Residents who spoke at a public hearing held by the Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday night, expressed concerns, mainly about noise on the overnight.

Inside the store, the company wants to bring back a snack bar that was repurposed early in the pandemic, add a Starbucks, and create storage for items people order online but pick up in store.

Outside, the retailer hopes to add more curbside pick up parking spaces. Sixteen more contactless drive-up parking stalls would be added, and eight more relocated.

When the dust clears, Target would be adding 13,000 square feet to its existing 123,000 square foot store.

Besides the obvious new revenue opportunities, the expansion would allow the Bethel Target to build out its stockroom. The retailer currently leases an offsite facility to hold about half of its inventory replenishment. A training/conference area and new employee lounge are also on the drawing board.

Target is one of the big chains that has thrived during the pandemic. A news release from March touted 2020 as a record-breaking year for the retailer, and laid out its plans to invest approximately $4 billion annually during the next several years to continue scaling upwards.

The Planning and Zoning Commission did not vote Tuesday. Their next meeting is set for Oct. 12.