Target Comes to BU

The Packard’s Corner Target, opened in West Campus this summer, is a fraction of the size of an average Target and carries merchandise specifically geared toward college students. Photos by Jackie Ricciardi

Back to school shopping just got a little easier for new and returning students with the opening of the new Target store in what had been East Coast Alpine in Packard’s Corner. Unlike the chain’s typical sprawling stores (the four-floor Fenway store is 160,000 square feet), at 16,000 square feet, it’s one of a new breed of compact Targets that have been cropping up around the country since 2014.

These small Targets are either near college campuses or in densely populated urban areas. Because of their size, the merchandise they carry is carefully chosen to suit the needs of each particular demographic. Similar stores are set to open in the coming months near the University of Chicago and at Penn State. The Packard’s Corner store is the first Target of its size in New England.

“Boston is a great city to try this approach. Obviously there is a very young demographic, with a lot of students and a lot of colleges,” says store manager Mike Maher. “College students have always been a really important guest for Target. We offer a one-stop shop for those moving into either apartments or dorms. For university stores, it’s all about low price point and apartment or dorm essentials—basic bedding, basic bath, and fresh groceries—all convenient to campus.”

The Packard’s Corner Target has been a popular draw with students since it opened July 24, and a recent visit shows why. Merchandise is limited to apartment and dorm décor, stationery and school supplies, cleaning products, health and beauty items, a selection of men’s and women’s clothing, a small tech section, and bedding and bath essentials—sheets, mattress pads, towels. It carries fresh produce, frozen entrees, snacks, and college staples like ramen noodles, pasta, and soup, as well as refrigerated grab-and-go items for a quick lunch or dinner.

While the new Target doesn’t carry BU apparel (head to Barnes & Noble @ BU for that), it does offer Red Sox and Patriots gear. It’s also stocked with local products like Big Papi’s Kitchen (Red Sox legend David Ortiz’s company) chips and dips, and Marshmallow Fluff (invented by Massachusetts men and made in Lynn).

Employee Shane Guidaboni (MET’16) says he wishes the store had existed when he was a student living in Allston apartments without a car.

“Before this store opened, I had to go to Watertown, which was definitely out of the way,” Guidaboni says, “Target is a good place to go if you need furniture or just something quick.”

The store has been designed to make shopping as easy as possible for students. Instead of shopping carts clogging the narrow aisles, there are regular baskets or ones that convert into small carts. Checkout was also designed with students in mind: three registers are manned by cashiers, but six are self-checkout, which Maher says younger customers prefer.

An added convenience, the In-Store Pickup, allows customers to order and pay for products online and pick them up in the store. An item in stock in the store can be picked up within two hours. If it needs to be ordered, it can be picked up within a few days. The feature allows customers to purchase big items unavailable at the store, and not worry about having them stolen from a mailroom or lobby.

“The store has been swamped with all of the students coming back,” says Guidaboni. “The feedback I’ve gotten so far has been positive.”

“We’re excited to be so close to campus and be such a convenience to the students. We worked really hard to bring in merchandise unique to this area, and we hope to be a success with students,” Maher says.

Packard’s Corner Target, 860 Commonwealth Ave., is open 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday; phone: 617-991-9822.

Liz Vanderau can be reached at vanderau@bu.edu.