TARGET STORE TO CLOSE
Future uncertain for Ocean Grove store’s 13 employees
A STALWART of the Ocean Grove shopping centre is set to close this year.
After rumours of Target Country’s impending closure spread throughout the coastal town, the retailer has this week confirmed the store will shut its doors.
A Target spokeswoman told the Geelong Advertiser the Ocean Grove store would close on September 28 due to a lease expiry.
It is unclear if any employees will be left without a job.
Target announced last year it would close dozens of stores during the next five years. It says half its outlets have been running at a loss.
“Target is working hard to ensure our 13 Ocean Grove team members can join another Target team at a store convenient to them or across the wider Wesfarmers retail businesses,” the spokeswoman said.
“Target wants to thank our Ocean Grove team, the local community and all of our customers for shopping with us and hope they will consider visiting us at our Geelong and Waurn Ponds stores or at www.target.com.au.”
After the closure, residents will face a 30-minute drive to get to the Geelong or Waurn Ponds Target.
Wesfarmers department stores chief executive Guy Russo told News Corp last year that Target was set to reduce its store space footprint by 20 per cent during the next five years.
Earlier this year Wesfarmers announced it would close about 30 Big W stores during the next three years.
TARGET IS WORKING HARD TO ENSURE OUR 13 OCEAN GROVE TEAM MEMBERS CAN JOIN ANOTHER TARGET TEAM AT A STORE CONVENIENT TO THEM OR ACROSS THE WIDER WESFARMERS RETAIL BUSINESSES.
A TARGET SPOKESWOMAN