Which discount retailer opened its first store in Roseville, Minnesota, in 1962? Target opened its first store there in 1962.
The new chain was created by Dayton’s, the Minneapolis department-store company, as an upscale alternative within the growing discount-store market. Retail executive John Geisse developed the concept, while Douglas Dayton became the first president of Target Stores.
The Roseville location opened in May 1962, in a suburb of Saint Paul. The chain emphasized attractive stores, trend-conscious merchandise and lower prices rather than competing solely on being the cheapest retailer. By the end of its first year, Target had four Minnesota stores: Roseville, Crystal, Duluth and St. Louis Park.
A frequent confusion is the difference between Target’s corporate age and the age of its stores. The parent company traces its history to George Dayton’s 1902 business, but the Target store brand began in 1962. The parent corporation adopted the Target name in 2000, after the discount chain had become its defining business.