Nine Target Stores Close in Cities Governed by Democrats

Retail giant Target announced the closure of nine of its stores located in major cities governed by Democrats. This drastic decision comes in the wake of escalating theft and violence that have been plaguing these locations.

The affected cities include San Francisco, Portland, New York City, and Seattle.

Earlier this year, a Target store in San Francisco had to resort to placing all products behind security glass in an attempt to curb theft. However, this measure proved insufficient as the crime rates continued to surge.

Target’s decision to close down these stores was not taken lightly. The company stated, “We cannot continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime are threatening the safety of our team and guests, and contributing to unsustainable business performance.”

The stores will be closed on Oct. 21. https://t.co/rd7LyiUfIw

— KING 5 News (@KING5Seattle) September 26, 2023

The safety of their employees and customers is paramount, and the company believes it can only be successful if the working and shopping environment is safe for all.

The closures will affect one store in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood, two locations in Seattle, three stores in the San Francisco-Oakland area, and three more in Portland, Oregon. The company plans to permanently shut these stores on October 21.

Target, which operates nearly 2,000 stores across the U.S., has been vocal about the issue of organized retail crime at its stores. The company reported theft led to higher levels of shrink, an industry term used to describe losses from goods that were damaged, misplaced, or stolen.

In a bold move, Target has chosen to both close stores and explicitly attribute this decision to retail crime. During the company’s fiscal second-quarter earnings report in mid-May, CEO Brian Cornell revealed that organized retail crime had significantly increased at its stores.

🚨BREAKING: Target to close nine stores in major cities, citing “violence and theft” pic.twitter.com/dSfpKmfva3

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 26, 2023

He further added that shrink is expected to reduce Target’s full-year profitability by more than $500 million compared to the previous year.

The situation has become so dire that thieves ransacking Target stores in Portland, New York City, and San Francisco has become a common occurrence. This is largely attributed to policies implemented by Democrats, which effectively eliminated cash bail, reduced or eliminated charges for theft, and hamstrung law enforcement.

The closure of these Target stores is a clear indication of the deteriorating law and order situation in these Democrat-run cities. It serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of ineffective policies that fail to deter crime and ensure the safety of businesses and their customers.

This article appeared in Conservative Cardinal and has been published here with permission.