Neighbors Worry Kings Highway Target Is A Death Knell For Small Businesses

By Megan McGibney

Earlier this month, it was announced that the superstore chain Target will be coming to Kings Highway. This is the latest national chain establishment to come to this thoroughfare, following TJ Maxx, Starbucks and Chipolte.

Although, some are excited about the popular store, not everyone is pleased.

“It’s a very bad idea,” says Dalia Taassa, who lives near the Target’s proposed location and works at a nearby shoe store. “I love Target, but not next to my house. They don’t need it here. They can do it somewhere that is not neighborly.”

Many who either work or shop along Kings Highway expressed concern that the store will create parking problems. Target will be placed on East 13th Street, where a parking lot currently is.

“There will be too much congestion,” says a local resident named David. “Their trucks will block the streets. A lot of things will change for the worse.”

The most dismayed about Target coming to King Highway were the owners and managers of small stores. As the manager of a perfume store explained, the area was once the home to many mom & pop stores.

“Ever since TJ Maxx came, they took a lot of the quality of the streets, the parking, and a lot of other things. And they’re killing small stores,” says the owner, who requested to anonymous.

Viola Abady, the manager of Shoe Obsession near the corner of East 13th Street, agrees.

“I’m not so excited. Different type of people will come. It wouldn’t help us,” she says. “There will be cheap prices. Actually, we lost a lot of customers when TJ Maxx came.”

For some residents and store owners along Kings Highway, Target marks the end of an era in some way.

“I know people who live here are complaining,” says Dalia Taassa. “My neighbor wants to write a letter to the Governor. I’m going to move, but don’t know where.”

“It’s not about the people anymore,” says the perfume store manager, whose shop has been around for 90 years. “Small businesses don’t have a future. They say there’s no monopoly in the country, but…”

Despite the unhappy tone over Target coming to Kings Highway, there are some who are pleased that the popular store will be in the neighborhood soon.

“I guess it’s good for business,” says Joe Greene, 26, who works as a boxing trainer.

“I think that would be cool,” says Ezra Shami, 21, who works in real estate development. “Who doesn’t like Target?”

When asked about the smaller stores and the possible parking dilemmas, Shami shrugs. “I can see that. It may be bad. But if you’re a regular Target customer, it might be good for you.”