Target Heads to the Hamptons

by · WWD
Back-to-college shopping at Target.Courtesy image

HAMPTONS’ BULL’S-EYE: Target will soon open its first store in the Hamptons at the site of the former Kmart in Bridgehampton, a location that’s been the subject of endless speculation.

The grand opening is set for Oct. 11, though there will be a “soft opening” period of about six days to work out any kinks, and a VIG (very important guest) invitation-only celebration for local officials, the store team and their families. The store is approximately 90,000 square feet and is expected to have about 140 employees.

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For the Hamptons crowd, it’s a big opening and bound to attract a diversified audience of both year-round residents and those who summer in the Hamptons, working class and wealthy alike. For Target, it’s an opportunity to generate some major volume considering there’s little in the way of direct discount competition in the area, other than the nearby TJMaxx and Home Goods stores, largely due to local zoning laws.

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Kmart was once a dominant force in discounting across the U.S. until being overtaken by Walmart and hampered by the flawed merger with the now-defunct Sears, a combination led by Eddie Lampert. Kmart had a long, slow demise with the Bridgehampton site being one of the very last units in the chain to close. In its final seasons, Kmart had few shoppers and minimal service. The store closed for good in September 2024.

Target, however, will be service-oriented, providing drive up for order pickup, and same-day delivery with the Target Circle 360 paid annual membership program offering more perks than Target’s free loyalty program. The Hamptons Target will also house a CVS and Starbucks.

According to one Target official, “Bridgehampton’s exterior and interior align with the town’s design guidelines to reflect its coastal vibes.”

The address is 2102 Montauk Highway, which is in the Bridgehampton Commons shopping center. Currently, the closest Target store to the Hamptons is located in Riverhead, N.Y.