Target gains approval for Downtown Pittsburgh store, plans to preserve Kaufmann's legacy

As Target officials worked on plans for a store in the historic Kaufmann’s building in Downtown Pittsburgh, they’ve taken pains to respect its legacy.

“We’re well aware of the history and the culture of this building in the hearts and minds of the citizens of Pittsburgh,” Target architect Doug Bartolomeo told Pittsburgh Planning Commission members Tuesday, before the commission unanimously approved the plans.

“It’s been called a retail masterpiece,” Bartolomeo said of the art deco building at Smithfield Street and Fifth Avenue.

The 108-year-old bronze Kaufmann’s Clock has been a landmark and meeting place at the corner and will be preserved.

The image of the clock will be used in translucent red film that Target will place on the windows at the borders of its footprint in the building, which is also being developed for residential and commercial uses.

At 22,000 square feet, the store will be a much smaller version of Target than its traditional big-box versions in suburbia. It’s part of the Minneapolis-based company’s venture into different markets, including downtowns and college campuses, where they sell items tailored to those customers, Bartolomeo said.

Instead of the big box, where the contents are the same, each of these smaller stores is different.

It’s something the company has emphasized to Pittsburgh officials, who have supported the project.

“The Target location is going to be a great addition to the retail mix,” Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership President Jeremy Waldrup has said. “With its smaller urban footprint, they are going to zero in on the Downtown office worker and resident and hopefully drive additional traffic into Downtown.”

Target hasn’t set an opening date, but Waldrup said he’s hopeful it will be open in time for the 2021 Christmas shopping season.

The chain has prospered during the pandemic, with sales up both online (102%) and in-store (4.2%).