Target opens doors in Logan

After years of anticipation from Cache Valley residents, Target will open its Logan location July 26, adding a new retail option and creating hundreds of jobs in the community.

The store’s opening comes as Logan continues to grow and as Utah State University students prepare to return for the fall semester. Store officials said the location was planned to serve both the university community and residents throughout Cache Valley.

Kate Michael, the store director for the new Logan location, said Target designed the store with the needs of the community in mind.

“We are super excited,” Michael said. “We’re going to be a top-tier back-to-college store, so that means we’re going to lean in pretty heavily to have all the great college dorm essentials and just really cater to the college community.”

The opening has also required Target to build a new workforce in Logan. Ivy Reese, team leader of Open Market Produce, said Target held hiring events in the area and brought on nearly 300 employees before opening.

Customers enter new Target store in Logan during premiere event, held July 21.

“We found a lot of really great people,” Reese said. “I think I had to hire, like, close to 300 people in like the span of like three or four weeks.”

Michael said Target will continue seasonal hiring through the back-to-college period as the store adjusts staffing for the school year.

“We will continue to hire seasonally through back-to-college because that’s going to be kind of like a midsummer Q4 for us,” Michael said. “Q4 is our holiday season, so we get to experience it twice in one year, being a top-tier back-to-college.”

Michael said some employees are also college students whose schedules will change once classes begin.

“We do have team members who are in college now, so they’ll be updating their availability and once we get that, we’ll continue to staff for what the business needs are based on their new availabilities,” Michael said.

For students and residents, the store’s opening adds another option for shopping in Cache Valley.

Reese said employees have heard from college students about difficulties finding certain items during the start of the school year.

“We’ve had a lot of college students who are working here, and I’ve heard the same story a lot,” Reese said. “That like all the other stores, when college hits, it’s, like, almost impossible to prepare for how much comes through.”

To prepare for increased traffic, employees have worked on inventory and store operations before opening.

“I’m just happy to be able to help these kids get through school, help them get their education, and I’m just excited to see their excitement for the new store and our brands,” Reese said.

Reese said the store may help fill some of the retail gaps left after changes to the Cache Valley Mall.

“I know with the mall leaving, I’ve heard that there was a lot of — especially clothing — a lot of people were saying that they’ve had their options on clothing cut down a lot,” Reese said. “We’ve got a really large style department, so I’m just really excited to be filling those gaps that were left from the mall closing.”

The store will also offer a 20% discount for verified college students during the back-to-college season. Students can verify their eligibility through the Target app to receive the discount.

Michael said opening the Logan location has also been an opportunity to become part of the Cache Valley community.

“The culture of the community is very strong, and it is a very happy and family-orientated community, which has made coming in such an easy thing,” Michael said. “I know the team that I have that is local is just going to continue to connect with the community in a great way.”

During the opening ceremony, Michael thanked the Cache Valley community and those who helped bring the store to Logan.

“We are incredibly honored to be here and grateful for the opportunity to serve this amazing community,” Michael said.