The new Target store opens Tuesday at the former Zellers location at Driftwood Mall in Courtenay.
Signified by the iconic red and white bullseye, the store will employ about 150 team members. Pat McKenna is the store's team leader.
Zellers employees did not automatically transfer to new positions at Target, which sells housewares, electronics, clothing, toys, grocery, and health and beauty products, among other items.
The company is opening 20 stores in Canada this month, including the Courtenay location. Most of the 20 locations will include a Starbucks and a pharmacy. Each will carry brands such as Archer Farms, Market Pantry, Roots, Sam & Libby, Shaun White apparel, and Nate Berkus and Sonia Kashuk collections.
The company expects to open 124 Canadian stores this year. Outlets at Discovery Harbour Shopping Centre in Campbell River, Nanaimo North Town Centre and Tillicum Mall in Victoria have already opened.
In 2011, Target opened its Canadian headquarters in Mississauga, Ont.
The Minneapolis-based company operates 1,784 stores in the U.S. and 48 stores in Canada.
Competing against other discount retail giants, Target operates in nearly every U.S. state offering 'trend-forward' merchandise at low cost, as opposed to the traditional concept of focusing on low-priced goods.