It's Official: Target To Replace Kmart

The rumors turned out to be true: Target will replace the recently closed Kmart in the Bridgehampton Commons shopping center.

The development was confirmed on Monday, November 4, by Jennifer Maisch, the vice president for marketing and corporate communications at Kimco Realty, which owns the shopping center, but she could not provide further details.

Target also confirmed the news.

“We’re excited to bring an easy, affordable and convenient shopping experience to new guests in the Bridgehampton community with this new Target store,” a Target spokeswoman said. “As we get closer to opening the store, we’ll have more specific details to share — including how the shopping experience will be tailored to serve local guests and the grand opening date.”

Rumors that Target would replace Kmart, which occupied nearly 90,000 square feet of the shopping center’s space and served as one of its two main anchors along with King Kullen, were rampant in the days leading up to Kmart’s closing on October 20.

Kmart, once the second-largest retailer behind Sears, has seen its share of the market declining for more than 20 years. It declared bankruptcy in 2002 and later merged with Sears, which was having its own financial problems. After Sears closed in 2018, Kmart continued on a slow downward trajectory.

The Bridgehampton store, which saw a brisk seasonal business, thanks to the East End’s status as a second-home community, was the last standing big Kmart in the United States. The company still has a few stores remaining, on Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.