The news that Marquette's Target store is set to expand is good news - even for people who aren't regular shoppers.
The store plans to take three months to conduct a major renovation, adding a new grocery department and upgrading existing departments as summer rolls in. The remodel is slated to begin in March and wrap up by the end of June. Management plans to keep the store open throughout the remodel.
The Marquette Township upscale discount store already offers dry goods and some frozen and refrigerated foods. But the new grocery will give them the capacity for perishable items: fruits, vegetables and a wider selection of meats. Outside of the grocery department, Target's electronics, cosmetics and shoe departments will see big changes, too.
The store will add the new grocery lines without expanding the current building by shrinking other departments to minimize the impact of more shelves in the same space.
So aside from the increased selection of items for area grocery shoppers, why is this good news?
The remodel will boost area employment by about 50 jobs, with a variety of full-time, part-time and salaried positions being added, according to store management. Some of those jobs will be temporary, helping shoppers find things during the store realignment, but others will be permanent - the number of new full-time hires will depend on the level of sales boost the store sees from the remodel. Every one of those jobs will be welcome.
We wish Target success in their new venture, and congratulate them on showing the optimism to invest in an expansion project during these troubled economic times.