Wasilla store on target for October

MAT-SU — Piece by piece, construction of the Wasilla Target retail store continues en route to the store’s slated grand opening on Oct. 12.

The date, which coincides with the grand opening of the nationwide chain’s Anchorage location, will be a special one for Matanuska-Susitna Valley residents.

“People are waiting with bated breath,” said Cheryl Metiva, Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce executive director. Home Depot, Lowe’s and Wal-Mart played to record-breaking debuts in the Valley for their franchises’ first-quarter reports, Metiva said, and she expects the same for Target’s opening.

The store will be located at the former site of the Cottonwood Creek Mall. Names of other tenants slated to open alongside Target have not been released.

City planner Jim Holycross said he anticipates local public transit authorities will service the store.

Holycross added the city will see an influx of money from sales tax on transactions at the store. Both the city planning department and the chamber of commerce said they have not created any projections for how much revenue the city will receive from the store.

“So far, it’s been a great partnership,” Metiva said, saying most of her organization is in favor of the chain setting up shop, despite estimating 80 percent of the chamber’s members are small business owners.

While some local businesses may be squeezed out by the Minneapolis-based corporation, Metiva and Holycross agreed the key will be for Valley business owners to specialize their products and concentrate on uniqueness.

“If you have a niche the larger corporations aren’t in, then you can survive,” Holycross said.

Target has also made its presence felt in the area. The store sponsored the restart of the Iditarod, a free admission day at the Alaska Native Heritage Center on Mother’s Day and the recent opening of the Matanuska Creamery.

Browman Development Group, the proprietor of the store’s location, did not return several phone calls for comment.

Target spokesperson Brie Heath said the Wasilla store begins hiring for team leader positions on July 11 and 12, with other positions being filled Aug. 7-10. Locations for interviews have yet to be determined.