Target Country closes doors for final time

Target Country closes doors for final time

An existing Millicent retailer is set to occupy the vacant Target Country store after it closed its doors for the last time at 5pm on Saturday.

The purpose-built department store in George Street opened as part of the nationwide Coles chain 56 years ago. The freehold of the Target Country site in Millicent was put on the open market in 2019 for an unspecified sum and was purchased last year by a Millicent family which operates a retail business.

Saturday’s closure of Target Country means Millicent’s only stores to have their trading hours regulated are Woolworths and Foster’s Foodland.

There was steady foot traffic through the doors of Target Country in the last week of trading with bargain hunters seeking goods at marked-down prices.

This depleted the levels of floor stock with many clothing and homewares lines sold out. Manager Annie Nowak, her staff Maxine Lang, Michelle Lane, Debbie Tincknell, Sharna Long and Kiara Stewart together with Adelaide Target employee Gage Clarkson all worked the final shift on Saturday afternoon.

Among the final customers of the store were Mount Burr couple Kevin and Sue Thrush. “We moved here in 1973 and have been shoppers ever since,” Mr Thrush said. “My wife loves shopping for clothes. “It is sad to see the jobs go.”

The majority of the six Millicent employees of Target Country have worked there for several years. They have received many messages of support via the Facebook page of The SE Voice newspaper.

The tight-knit staff group gathered at a hotel in Millicent on Saturday night to reflect on the store’s closure. The closure decision was announced several months ago and was attributed to nationwide changes in retail trends.

In all, 75 Target stores will close across the nation. It was met with a public outcry across Millicent and district with Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll and Millicent Business Community Association chairman Lee Morgan being vocal opponents.

The Millicent retail and business scene has become less diverse in the past two or so years with the closure of the Commonwealth Bank, Country Attitude, Absolutely Anything, In-store, Glendee Autos, Millicent and District Community Club, Millicent Central Hub, The South Eastern Times office and Allan Schwarz Ag-Marine.

The Naracoorte Target Country has been slated for closure in March in a move which has upset Naracoorte Lucindale Council and its Mayor Erika Vickery.

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