Target Groundbreaking, Marty And All

I still maintaint hat this will be a good thing for the residents of Flatbush. Schlepping to the congested and over-crowded Atlantic Center is not fun. And for those of you anti-target types, many people, particularly those with children, of many ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds do shop there. Flatbush is extremely diverse in all of these respects. The new Target will provide convenience, and just as importantly, jobs, for an area that would really benefit from improved retail facilities. Flatbush Junction is already pretty unattractive. The construction of even a Target monolith won't make much difference in that respect.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 16, 2006 9:31 AM

I had the worst experience last time I was at the Atlantic Center Target after work. I had 3 items to purchase, and as soon as I tried to join the one express line that was opened, the cashier announced that he had already closed the line. This meant that anyone, including myself, with 10 items or less had to join the nightmare of long lines of customer, each with shopping cart filled to the brim. If it was not for the one item, that had been out of stock on my last shopping trip, I would have just given up. I took me 20 minutes to get checked out.

I repeatedly asked for the manager to explain why there were zero express cash registers open, but no manager appeared. The Atlantic Center Target is always under stocked and overcrowded. Hopefully a second B'klyn Target will ease the congestion. But in the mean time, I'm sticking to Target.com (and then only when they have a sale + free shipping).

Posted by: Anonymous at March 16, 2006 10:02 AM

I avoid the Atlantic center and drive out to the one at the Gateway Center to stock up. The Atlantic Center target is always a nightmare.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 16, 2006 10:06 AM

From The Brooklyn Downtown Star "Their plans for the site involve the construction, at a total cost of $80 million, of a 220,000-square-foot Target store, a five-level parking garage for 500 cars, and another 80,000-square-feet of retail space for as yet to be determined tenants. How about a Red Lobster?" suggested Marty Mark, shovel still in hand, "or a Legal Seafoods?"

Red Lobster, phooey. Legal Seafoods, now we're talking! I know your all going to moan and groan about chain stores and chain restaurants, but Legal Seafoods has great food.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 16, 2006 10:09 AM

But going first thing Sunday morning requires a special trip. The whole point of big box retail is that it's supposed to be convent to pop in and pick up a few things or to do a major shopping trip. We should be able to pop in on the way home from work (as the majority of subways pass under or near Atlantic Ave) and pick up a few things, and have sufficient cashiers at the express registers. The times I have gone there when they fully staff express section, your cashed out in minutes even with a long line.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 16, 2006 10:19 AM

I sorry to say that I have to agree with the experiences of the last two posters. Some customer service training and implementation of such training would be great. They have the traffic, they should get it right and keep the volumes up as a result.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 16, 2006 11:48 AM

Years ago, I recall reading an interview with an exec from some retailer (Neiman Marcus?) and they said that they would not open a store in NYC because NYC labor pool did not meet their requirements for courtesy and customer service.

I no longer shop in the B'klyn Macys due to their abysmal customer service and lack of cashiers. Back in the day when I work at Herald Square Macys you always worked the cash register first and foremost and did floor clean up during lulls. But the B'klyn Macys mgmt. seems to think floor clean up is more important than register and anytime you want to buy something you have to have at least 3 floor clean up workers in 3 depts. to point you further and further to an open cash register. What happened to having staff that can pick up a sweater and work the register?

It's frustrating to try and shop local and get such crap service.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 16, 2006 11:56 AM

Wow I have never had a bad experience at the Atlantic Target. I do agree that there needs to be more cashiers there. As far as the staff being nice they are always pleasant and helpful to me. I do notice that some of the customers can be extremely nasty to them and most of the customers will not even say please or thank you.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 16, 2006 1:55 PM

I love living in Brooklyn, but shopping there is truly an experience..Besides food I shop in Manhattan. Atlantic Term. Target = always out of stock

Posted by: Anonymous at March 16, 2006 2:51 PM

And now we are getting an IKEA causing congestion in the surrounding neighborhoods with the same wonderful customer service from the projects.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 19, 2006 11:08 AM