Target Coming To West Orange: Some Love It, Others Less Enthusiastic

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Not every retail brand can manage to stir up a monsoon of comments – both in support and criticism – with the announcement of a new store. But in West Orange at least, Target has created a buzz that will likely continue until it arrives.

Last month, the West Orange Planning Board approved plans for the new West Orange Plaza, which will be anchored by a new Target department store. Slated to open in late spring of 2024, the new plaza will feature a “village” made of shops, restaurants and a pocket park, township officials said.

The new Target store will take the spot once occupied by a former Kmart, which served as a county-run vaccination center during the coronavirus pandemic.

“In an era when other communities are seeing stores close, we are excited to have this long-awaited, large-scale investment in brick-and-mortar retail in our community,” West Orange officials wrote in a social media post.

• See Related: West Orange Hits The Target; Planning Board OKs Shopping Center Plans

After the announcement was made, West Orange residents and others living in the area hit the internet to share their opinions about the news.

“The enhanced property value should result in increased tax revenue,” a commenter opined on a previous Patch article.

“Do you know how many stores have opened and closed in that area?” another reader countered. “Pretty much all of them.”

Other West Orange community members shared their views on our recent social media post, providing “an entire spectrum of opinions from love to hate,” according to one commenter.

The replies included:

• “I’m West Orange resident and can’t wait for this addition for our town.”\
• “As a West Orange resident, the town needs something … Target is OK but with the addition of Burlington [Coat Factory], it needs some class.”
• “Walmart is better. There’s none around.”
• “I am going to throw in the usual ‘OMG I can’t wait to shop/eat there.’”
• “Trader Joe’s would have been better choice … after all we can drive to Fairfield for Target.”
• “As a local resident not looking forward to the traffic gridlock that will become Eagle Rock and Prospect.”
• “I’m happy about this … [love] Target, can’t wait.”
• “Please bring it here … there’s enough parking and West Orange residents need our taxes to not hit the sky so we Target there … need I say more!”
• “I’m happy to bring revenue to the town. Only wish they would do it with classier establishments. Target is gross.”
• “I was wishing for this 15-20 years ago when that crummy Kmart was still there. Like whyyyyy can't I snap my fingers and make this become a Target or Walmart! And now it's actually happening!”

Yet more West Orange residents and community members weighed in via the town’s original social media announcement.

“We are super excited for this all to happen,” the owners of Frank's Pizza and Restaurant wrote, adding that the business will remain in the same spot when Target arrives.

“It will probably be finished before the library,” another commenter quipped. See Related: West Orange Library Reopening Sees More Snags, Funding Issues

Other comments included:

• “We should all be excited. Finally a store in West Orange to shop. I am so tired of driving all the way to East Hanover for a store. Also these are the stores who help alleviate our taxes!”
• “Great news! Can we also negotiate a contribution/donation to improving our school infrastructure? It will be aligned with their social responsibility mission.”
• “Please more small businesses.”
• “Reminds me of when West Orange had Caldor.”
• “Hope they hire cashiers. Totally against self-checkout.”

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