A round of cocktails… at Target? The retailer’s new store in Chicago will sell beer, wine, and liquor - that can all be consumed on the premises
- A new Target in Chicago, opening in October, has obtained liquor licences to sell packaged alcohol and serve beer, wine and liquor
- Other neighboring stores such as Whole Foods Market also serve alcohol in order to improve the shoppers' experience
- There is no official word from Target on how this plan will be implemented or if this new strategy will be introduced nationwide
If you thought ordering online while tipsy was dangerous to your wallet, just wait. One Target store in Chicago is reported to be planning to sell beer, wine, and liquor that can be consumed on the premises.
According to a city filing which was first reported on by Crain’s Chicago Business, the new store, which is set to open in October, has applied for two liquor licenses.
One licence will allow the location to sell packaged liquor, like six-packs that customers can take home, and another will give them the ability serve alcohol including beer, wine and spirits on-site.
Tipsy shopping: Chicago's new Target has acquired liquor licenses to sell alcohol on-premise and will be the first of the chain to do so
The 4,400 dollar liquor licence permits 'Consumption on Premises,' and must be renewed every two years.
This is a seemingly small price to pay for the projected revenue that adding alcohol to Target's repertoire could provide.
The 24,000-square-foot store at 401 E. Illinois St., near Chicago's Navy Pier is already causing quite a buzz, as it seems that Target is seeking to diversify and give customers a new more relaxed way to shop.
Customers who may become frustrated or overwhelmed walking down the aisles will be able to take a quick break with a refreshing beer before going back to picking out bedding.
Targeting the barflies? The first liquor-friendly Target will soon be opening at this location (pictured) in the Navy Pier section of Chicago
Many businesses have been jockeying to serve alcohol on-premise as an easy way to make shopping more fun and less stressful. Around the country, grocery chains such as Wegmans and Hy-Vee have bars and prepared foods services.
Even the Chicago Target's neighboring Whole Foods Market has a wine bar, as well as serving beer and liquor at the in-store restaurant.
But Target and Whole Foods aren't the only retail stores seeking out liquor licenses.
In 2013, the Urban Outfitters on North 6th Street in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, also applied for a liquor license. It was met with contempt by City Councilman Stephen Levin, who represents a nearby Brooklyn neighborhood.
In a statement, the councilman chided the company's forward thinking as unnecessary.
'I can't think of a circumstance for which it would be appropriate for Urban Outfitters to have a liquor license,' he insisted, 'We must ask ourselves, 'Do we really want people drunk when they are buying their skinny jeans and ironic t-shirts?''
Target seems to disagree.
Bullseye! Target has yet to comment if they will introduce alcohol in their stores nation-wide
It's a commonly held retail belief that the longer you can get a customer to stay in the store the more likely they will purchase something. Target, however, has yet to comment on their exact reasons for possibly entering the bar-game.
Many are wondering whether on-site bars will be implemented in other Target locations as well.
Leaving the public in suspense, Target has yet to comment on if their customers will eventually be able to buy while boozing nation-wide. In fact, nowhere on their website or otherwise have they mentioned this new development. A spokesperson for Target is expected to release details soon.
As Target states in their 'Purpose and Beliefs' page on their website: 'We work hard to ensure your experience is always enjoyable and exciting.' Serving alcohol in its stores certainly matches well with that belief.
In just two more months, shoppers will see for themselves if having a tipple at Target will be a consumers' dream or more of a hangover.
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