Target announced Wednesday that the company plans to hire nearly 100 team members for the Bishops Corner store.

By Ronni Newton

Target announced Wednesday that the store currently under construction in Bishops Corner will have its grand opening on Aug. 18, 2019, and the company plans to hold job fairs on June 15 and 17.

The West Hartford store, which measures about 60,000 square feet, is being built out in the former Walmart Neighborhood Market location in the Edens Shopping Center at 333 North Main St. in Bishops Corner.

According to Target, it is the company’s first small-format store in the state. Target has 20 other stores in Connecticut, including six in the Hartford area.

Small-format stores are being opened in “urban areas, dense suburban neighborhoods, and near college campuses – places where a full-size Target store may not fit,” the company said.

The store, although smaller than most Target stores, will offer the same categories as in a full-size store, the company said. The assortment of foods and beverages, apparel, accessories, health and beauty items, home essentials, seasonal merchandise, electronics, and toys will be specifically curated for the customer base.

Pickup for online orders – most available within an hour – will also be available.

The space has been vacant since Walmart closed in January 2016.

Target applied to the Town of West Hartford in September 2018 with a request to amend the shopping center’s Special Development District to accommodate its signage and make other minor architectural changes, and signed the lease in December.

The job fair will. be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 555 Corporate Dr., Windsor. Interested candidates can apply in advance at Target.com/careers  and store leaders will be on hand to interview applicants and discuss Target corporate philosophy. Walk-ins are welcome, Target said in the announcement.

The job fair will be held on Saturday, June 15, from 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., and on Monday, June 17, from 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

“We are building a talented team of nearly 100 new team members who will help us deliver a helpful shopping experience to the residents of West Hartford and neighboring areas,” said Target Store Director Sarah Woodcock in the announcement. “At Target, we value the people who help us serve the local community, and we look forward to growing our team while providing them meaningful opportunities to build and develop skills for their careers.”

According to the announcement, Target offers its employees market-competitive wages and educational benefits including tuition and GED reimbursement “to support team members’ continued learning as they build skills for a lifetime. This commitment to its team allows Target to continue to recruit and retain strong team members and provide an easy and inspiring experience for guests in the communities it serves.”

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