Target in East Palo Alto to close next month, affecting 85 employees

(KRON) — The Target store in East Palo Alto will close permanently next month, KRON4 has confirmed. According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) report, the closure will be effective September 28.

The WARN report indicates that 85 employees will be laid off as a result of the closure. The notice was issued on Monday, July 29.

A Target spokesperson stated that the decision to close the East Palo Alto location is due to “prolonged underperformance.” Employees will be given the opportunity to transfer to other Target stores.

The final day for customers to shop at this Target will be September 28.

East Palo Alto Mayor Antonio Lopez noted that the closure reflects a broader decline in big-box retail. He emphasized that the city’s Economic Strategy Plan aims to address this challenge by seeking a suitable replacement for the store and supporting local small businesses and micro-vendors. Lopez also highlighted the urgency of finalizing the Ravenswood Business District Specific Plan Update to attract new development and better serve residents.

The Target store at 1775 E Bayshore Road has been a popular spot for Stanford students, given its proximity to the campus. This location and the one in Mountain View are the closest Targets to Stanford.

Last fall, Target announced the closure of three other Bay Area stores in San Francisco, Oakland, and Pittsburg, citing organized retail crime as a contributing factor.

KRON4 reached out to Target for additional details about the East Palo Alto store closure but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

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