New Target Store Near UT-Austin Campus Set To Open

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — Officials at retailer Target have scheduled a grand opening of their new store near the University of Texas at Austin for next weekend.

Dubbed the "Austin UT campus store," the new 22,000-square-site is located at 2021 Guadalupe St. at the mixed-use development named Dobie Twenty21 that features retail outlets and apartments. The site is the retailer's first small-format store location in Texas featuring a flexible design that allows for stores in smaller locations within the space offering tailor-made products for the largely university clientele.

A soft opening is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 11 with the grand opening scheduled the following Sunday, Nov. 12, officials said in a press advisory.

For many, the store opening has been highly anticipated in an area lacking a full-fledged retail location in near proximity to the university. Reflective of its client base, the store will offer a "curated" assortment of the neighborhood, officials said, including a range of products: fresh groceries with grab-and-go items; organic produce; adult beverages; apartment and dorm essentials; beauty needs; select men’s and women’s apparel and accessories; portable tech items; and apparel and accessories from the University of Texas at Austin.

Additionally, there will be a CVS Pharmacy on site along with a Starbucks coffee shop and Target Mobile and Order Pickup station.

In celebration of the opening, Target officials will award $6,000 in grants to three local nonprofits: Blanton Museum of Art, Caritas of Austin and Out Youth, company officials said.

The store aligns with the company's corporate strategy of building sites in high-growth urban areas, dense suburban neighborhoods and near college campuses. The campus store will employ some 55 workers.

Members of the media will be given a sneak peek of the site on Nov. 11 preceding the soft opening and ribbon cutting scheduled from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The next day, Sunday, Nov. 12, a grand opening is scheduled with complimentary, reusable bags given free of charge to the first 1,000 guests, officialssaid.

Given the CVS Pharmacy location to be housed inside the space, it's unclear what might happen to an existing outlet at 2222 Guadalupe catty-corner to the site across the street.

The opening marks the entry of a full-fledged retail outlet within walking distance of the university of which there is a dearth. The closest store offering produce, meats and other groceries is the Wheatsville cooperative at 2101 Guadalupe St. some 180 feet north of the new Target, but its prices are high given its specialty offerings.

>>> Photos by Tony Cantú, rendering courtesy of Target