BOARDMAN Target sets July opening for store in former Tops

THE VINDICATOR/YOUNGSTOWN
BOARDMAN -- Target has been granted a township zoning permit to build a $1.74 million addition to the former Tops grocery store building in the Shops at Boardman Park plaza on Boardman-Poland Road.
The permit, which required a $5,220 fee, allows the construction of a 30,000-square-foot addition. The plaza is owned by Handel Investments of Boardman.
County officials said Target has a temporary permit that allows the company to demolish part of the current structure, renovate other areas and build an addition to create a 124,453-square-foot store.
The project contractor is Darden Co. of Chagrin Falls.
Target, a general-merchandise retailer, plans a grand opening in July 2002 in the area on the southern end of the plaza. The space had been vacant since Tops moved out two years ago.
Other details: Target's announcement this summer that it would move into the area followed years of speculation about the retailer's intentions. Several other locations had been mentioned, including the site of the former Maag mansion on Boardman-Poland Road and Tanglewood Drive.
Minneapolis-based Target employs more than 250,000 and operates 1,320 stores in 46 states, including 990 Target stores, 266 Mervyn's stores and 64 Marshall Field's stores. A Target store is located in the Eastwood Mall in Niles.
The company reported 2000 profits of $1.264 billion on sales of $36.9 billion, up from sales of $33.7 billion in 1999.