Target Opens 2,000th U.S. Store in Fuquay-Varina, First of 30 Planned

Target opened its 2,000th U.S. location in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, a 148,000-square-foot store that Fox Business reports will welcome shoppers on March 15 and is the retailer’s 55th store in North Carolina. The company describes the site as an example of its new open-layout design and elevated guest experience aimed at making trips more relaxed and navigable.

Inside the Fuquay-Varina store customers will find a CVS Pharmacy, a Starbucks Cafe and a Disney Shop, Fox Business reports, part of an in-store tenant mix intended to boost convenience and same-day services. Target’s corporate language quoted by Fox Business says the location “represents the future of Target’s elevated guest experience with its open, easily navigable layout, convenient same-day services and winning team delivering a more relaxed and enjoyable shopping visit.”

Target executives frame the Fuquay-Varina opening as the first step in a wider push this year. Business Insider reported the store is the first of 30 new openings planned for 2026 and quoted Target chief stores officer Adrienne Costanzo: “Every time we open a new Target store, we’re planting roots in that community.” NationalToday carried a similar Costanzo line via The Hill: “Guests tell us all the time they want a Target closer to home, and this investment helps us do exactly that.”

The 2026 program mixes openings and large-scale remodels. Business Insider and Fox Business report Target will renovate about 130 existing locations and has set a $5 billion capital budget for the year — which Business Insider notes is $1 billion larger than last year — while multiple outlets report a long-term goal of roughly 300 net new stores by 2035.

The near-term rollout is concentrated: The Independent and AlphaSpread say seven stores open in March, with Fox Business listing specific March openings in Bakersfield and Delano, California; Springfield, Missouri; Jersey City and West Orange, New Jersey; and Dallas and Oak Cliff, Texas. Fox Business also reports Target has identified more than 40 additional communities across 25 states for future sites, and that Florida, North Carolina and Texas have the most confirmed new stores so far.

Service expansion accompanies store growth. Fox Business reports Target will expand next-day delivery to more than 20 new metro areas this year, extending same‑day and next‑day reach to about 60 percent of the U.S. population. Business Insider framed the broader strategy as a move to double down on physical retail to help reverse recent sales declines; Business Insider also supplied competitive context, noting Walmart operates more than 4,600 U.S. stores plus over 600 Sam’s Club warehouses, while Costco has 634 U.S. locations and another 290 internationally.

Several outlets vary on exact phrasing: Business Insider and Fox Business use “30” new stores for 2026, while AlphaSpread, NationalToday and The Independent describe the program as “more than 30” or “over 30.” Fox Business provides the specific March 15 opening date for Fuquay-Varina; Business Insider used the broader “in March” phrasing. AlphaSpread also cites initiatives tied to CEO Michael Fiddelke in its coverage of the rollout.

With a $5 billion capital plan, more than 130 remodels and expanded delivery reach, Target’s milestone Fuquay-Varina store signals a deliberate bet on physical retail in Wake County and nationwide as the company pursues 30-plus openings this year and a roughly 300-store pipeline through 2035.