TARGET PRACTICE

Bars ‘rivals’ from NYC retail center

Target is expanding into Jackson Heights — a much revitalized Big Apple neighborhood — and it’s bringing some sharp elbows.

The “cheap-chic” discount chain has signed a lease for a 23,580-squarefoot store in the Queens neighborhood that will be part of a new, 80,000square-foot building being developed by Sun Equity Partners and the Heskel Group, The Post has learned.

In an unusual twist, the lease at 40-81 82nd St. specifically singles out rival cosmetics boutiques Sephora and Ulta from opening stores at the project.

The move is seen as an effort by Target to try to protect sales of its own makeup and beauty products.

In fact, Ulta had been in talks to open a store at the Jackson Heights development — talks that got scuttled by Target’s rider, according to a source close to the deal.

As usual, Target’s Jackson Heights lease forbids rival supermarkets, pharmacies and convenience stores, as well as down-market venues like massage parlors, laundromats and secondhand stores.

But the rider also specifically bans fulfillment centers for online retailers — likely an attempt to block possible Amazon pickup stores that are in the early stages of development at the Seattle-based Web giant.

Target’s deal to open a new store at 112 W. 34th St. across from the Macy’s flagship in Herald Square, first reported by The Post on March 19, also banned Ulta. But a Sephora had already leased in the building. That rider also did not ban online-fulfillment centers.

Target already has several locations in Queens including in Forest Hills, at SkyView Center, Elmhurst and in College Point. The retailer is perfecting its small-store format for urban areas along with neighborhood-specific merchandise. Larger stores can run over 130,000 square feet.

The Jackson Heights site previously housed a defunct 82nd Street movie theater that was purchased by the developers for $27 million last fall.

“It’s a great endorsement for the mostly Hispanic neighborhood,” said Heskel Elias, chief executive of the Heskel Group, of the Target deal.

Peter Ripka and Jeffrey Howard of Ripco Realty represented Target, while Daniel Alani of Inline Realty worked for the developers.

The asking rent was $50 per square foot for the lower-level space with its own ground-floor entrance.

The 15-year lease, dated March 31, includes three five-year options to extend.