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Geraldton Kmart to open on June 17 in existing Target following three-week shutdown during construction

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Kate CampbellGeraldton Guardian
Kmart will replace Target at North Gate Shopping Centre later this year.
Camera IconKmart will replace Target at North Gate Shopping Centre later this year. Credit: The Geraldton Guardian

Christmases and birthdays will all come at once for Geraldton shoppers on June 17, when the city’s first-ever Kmart store opens its door.

Locals have been waiting for decades for a Kmart to come to town and now an end date has been revealed, with a Kmart spokesperson last week confirming the red letter day and saying the existing Target store at Northgate Shopping Centre will close and construction to convert it into a Kmart will start on May 31.

That means the store will be closed for about three weeks before opening its doors as Kmart on Thursday, June 17.

“It’s a very short amount of time,” the spokesperson said. “We’re transforming the store in under three weeks, so that we’re not inconveniencing shoppers with a long store closure.

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“When we open our doors to the community on June 17, they will be welcomed into a bright and colourful new format store, which will be filled with great value, on-trend products that we know our customers are going to love.”

The new Kmart will have a smaller floor plan than the current Target store, with Red Dot moving in next door.

The opening was initially planned for early 2021, but was pushed back by Wesfarmers as Target stores across the country make the switch.

Business leaders hope the conversion will improve the fortunes of niche businesses.

Last year, Geraldton Downtown Traders chair Graham Still said: “Because Kmart offers a cheaper product line than Target...I think (it) will leave more space in the market for people to open niche businesses.”

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