The Target department store chain is opening a store in Washington Heights soon, and many residents welcome it.
“Excellent store, I love it,” said a neighbor.
– Happy that the neighborhood is coming?
“I had heard for my children and it is their favorite store.”
But despite the variety in products and the great discounts its arrival in the neighborhood is not good news for everyone.
“Those people are going to disappear all the Dominican merchants that we have in Upper Manhattan, if that company lets them accept,” warned Ricardo Bonilla, co-owner of the Manhattan HD Corp hardware store.
Target has signed a 15-year lease at 600 West 181st Street. The location spans nearly 23,000 square feet. This has the traders in the area very nervous.
“Target has everything that we as a hardware store sell,” Bonila added.
And they also sell all kinds of items that are already available and neighborhood businesses, such as shoes, clothing, appliances, food and even prescriptions.
“The prices that Target can bring to the Washington Heights area, many merchants are not going to be able to compete,” said Isidro Medina, executive director of the Washington Heights BID.
With almost 2,000 points of sale across the country, the company can buy large quantities at a good price and offer discounts to the consumer. Some think that Target will be a double-edged sword, primarily benefiting the consumer.
“We may be insulated because we have brands and we have 40 years here and people know us, but the small, small business can really suffer and that would be very sad,” said Joe Lorenzo, owner of Macson Shoes.
Some think Target’s arrival in the neighborhood will force small retailers to reinvent themselves and better serve their customers.
“It is the opportunity to see what we are doing and see what we are not doing, we cannot remain stagnant. We have to look to the future,” said Luis Vázquez, of Home Design Furniture.
Small business owners are asking local political leaders for help to stop Target from landing in the neighborhood, but the national chain does not need any approval as it is not receiving any kind of grant from the city government.
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