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Retail Giant Takes Drastic Measures: Target Corp. to Close Nine Stores Amid Crime Surge in Blue States

ByAlki David

Sep 27, 2023

In a major announcement on Tuesday, retail giant Target Corp. revealed its decision to shut down nine stores across four states, sending shockwaves through the retail industry. The move comes as a response to a concerning surge in theft and threats to safety, which the company attributes to organized retail crime.

Target, a Minneapolis-based retail powerhouse, made what it called a “difficult decision” to close these stores, which are located in urban areas known for their vibrant communities. The affected locations include the historic Harlem neighborhood of New York City, as well as stores in Seattle, Portland, and the San Francisco Bay area.

The primary reason cited for these closures is the growing menace of theft and the company’s realization that conventional theft-preventive measures have proven ineffective. Target had taken steps to enhance security by employing third-party guards and implementing deterrents like locking up merchandise. However, despite these efforts, the relentless wave of criminal activity continued to pose a serious threat to the safety of both Target’s team members and valued guests.

The retail giant expressed its commitment to the communities it serves but emphasized that the decision to close these stores was driven by the imperative to maintain a safe working and shopping environment for everyone. Target firmly believes that its stores should be places where customers can shop with peace of mind and employees can carry out their duties without fear.

This announcement is just the latest example of retailers making the tough choice to exit urban locations due to rising crime rates. It underscores the far-reaching impact that crime can have on businesses, communities, and consumers alike.

As Target prepares to close these stores on October 21, many are left wondering about the broader implications of this move. Will other retailers be forced to make similar decisions in the face of escalating crime? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, communities affected by these closures will undoubtedly feel the void left by Target’s departure, emphasizing the critical importance of addressing the underlying issues contributing to the rise in crime.

By Alki David

Alki David — Publisher, Media Architect, SIN Network Creator - live, direct-to-public communication, media infrastructure, accountability journalism, and independent distribution. Born in Lagos, Nigeria; educated in the United Kingdom and Switzerland; attended the Royal College of Art. Early internet broadcaster — participated in real-time public coverage during the 1997 Mars landing era using experimental online transmission from Beverly Hills. Founder of FilmOn, one of the earliest global internet television networks offering live and on-demand broadcasting outside legacy gatekeepers. Publisher of SHOCKYA — reporting since 2010 on systemic corruption inside the entertainment business and its expansion into law, finance, and regulation. Creator of the SIN Network (ShockYA Integrated Network), a federated media and civic-information infrastructure spanning investigative journalism, live TV, documentary, and court-record reporting. Lived and worked for over 40 years inside global media hubs including Malibu, Beverly Hills, London, Hong Kong and Gstaad. Early encounter with Julian Assange during the first Hologram USA operations proved a formative turning point — exposing the realities of lawfare, information suppression, and concentrated media power. Principal complainant and driving force behind what court filings describe as the largest consolidated media–legal accountability action on record, now before the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court. Relocated to Antigua & Barbuda and entered sustained legal, civic, and informational confrontation over media power, safeguarding, and accountability at Commonwealth scale.