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THE countdown is on as Target prepares to close its sole location at a mall, a decision that has sent shockwaves through the community.
Nestled right off Highway 101 in a bustling shopping center, this Target store has served as a resource for the residents of this working-class city.
“Everybody goes shopping here. It’s just the go-to store. It really helped us a lot when it came.
“And it’s already going so soon,” expressed local resident of East Palo Alto, California Aliyah Calvillo Figueria to KGO-TV.
The closure, scheduled for September 28, comes as a harsh blow for a city that has been actively working to reshape its image.
Mayor Antonio Lopez shared that he received the news from Target on Monday, revealing that “underperformance” was cited as the reason for the store’s shutdown.
“Losing a name like Target, with its reputation and visibility, for a city like ours, it’s unfortunate. That’s the reality,” he lamented, per the publication.
MAJOR SHUTDOWN
With Target’s departure, East Palo Alto will be left with just one pharmacy serving its 28,000 residents and a limited selection of grocery options.
This is particularly troubling for a community that has long been characterized as a food desert.
“Because now if Target is closing, then there is no grocery store here in this area,” Sophie Wong, a concerned local shopper, pointed out to the publication.
Experts attribute the store’s closure to several factors impacting the retail landscape.
CSUEB Business Professor Balaraman Rajan explained to KGO-TV, “Underperformance is one of the reasons.
“Theft could be another reason.
“Generally, the e-commerce model that is getting in, it is also changing the way retail stores operate.”
He noted that Target’s decision to open at this location was based on data suggesting it could thrive, but as new business models have emerged post-pandemic, retailers are reassessing their strategies.
Does Target charge for bags?
Target automatically charges customers for bags in drive up and pickup orders.
The store charges $1 per every 10 bags used, meaning each plastic bag costs 10 cents.
“Charging bag fees for online pickup orders aligns with fees that were already in place for purchases made in Target stores at checkout,” Target shared on their site.
“If you’re purchasing from a store that charges bag fees, they’ll be applied to your order.”
If a customer uses less than 10 bags for their order, the amount is properly adjusted.
However, the rule depends on state and local laws as different stores have different bag policies.
Some locations only charge a five-cent fee for the bags while some spots charge five cents per bag at checkout in the store – and some don’t offer bags at all.
You can check how much you were charged for bags by viewing your order’s invoice through your Target account on Target.com or the app.
Target also allows customers to bring their own bags to avoid the automatic fee since they added bag preferences in March 2024.
If you order online for drive up or pickup at select stores, you can decline Target bags at checkout and tell the store you’ll be bringing your own bags to get your order.
“This is not going to be something that is going to stop at East Palo Alto,” Rajan cautioned.
“They are pick-up places rather than in-person shopping places. I think that is also something stores will be looking at.”
TARGET TANGO
In other news, Target and Walmart stores in California are set to ban plastic bags.
Beginning January 1, 2026, grocery stores will no longer permit the use of plastic shopping bags.
Customers who forget to bring their own bags will only have the option of requesting a paper bag to transport their purchases.
