Target Opens Five Stores Nationwide, Including Milestone 2,000th Location

Target reached a retail milestone today, opening its 2,000th U.S. store in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, as part of a same-day launch that put new locations in four other states simultaneously.

The Fuquay-Varina store, located in a suburb south of Raleigh, spans 148,000 square feet and represents what Target calls the future of its store format. The food and beverage section runs about 30% larger than the chain average, and the location carries an open layout designed for what the company describes as a more relaxed shopping experience. Same-day fulfillment options include Drive Up, Order Pickup, and same-day delivery. The store also houses a CVS Pharmacy, a Starbucks café, and a Disney Shop at Target, making it one of the more densely partnered locations in the chain.

Chief Stores Officer Adrienne Costanzo said Target was "planting roots" in all the communities it opens in. The company separately called the 2,000th location a store that "represents the future" of its retail footprint.

Alongside Fuquay-Varina, Target opened stores in Bakersfield and Delano, California; Springfield, Missouri; and Dallas, Texas. RTTNews reported that two additional March openings in Jersey City and West Orange, New Jersey, bring the total March launch count to seven.

There is a minor discrepancy in how outlets have characterized the broader 2026 expansion. RTTNews reported Target plans to open more than 30 new stores this year, while Money cited a "40-store plus opening wave." The company has not publicly reconciled the two figures.

Whatever the final count, the capital commitments behind the expansion are concrete. Target is backing its 2026 growth plans with a $5 billion investment to upgrade stores and expand online pickup and delivery capabilities. On top of that, the company intends to direct hundreds of millions of dollars toward store staffing and employee training this year, a signal that Target is trying to address chronic customer service concerns alongside the physical buildout.

The longer runway extends well past 2026. Target's stated goal is to add more than 300 stores by 2035, which would represent roughly a 15 percent increase over its current footprint. The expansion is unfolding under new CEO Michael Fiddelke, who has outlined changes to store design and layout as central to the company's repositioning.

The Sun reported that Florida, North Carolina, and Texas are each set to receive at least five new locations in 2026, with additional openings planned across Arizona, Utah, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and more than a dozen other states. Specific opening dates for many of those locations have not yet been announced.