After months of speculation and waiting, the Heights Target opened this week. It's official opening is next Tuesday, but it opened early for the neighborhood and those "in the know."
Sydney and I went this morning to check it out and while it looks just like any other Target, we did find some great "store-opening deals." She got a new Dora the Explorer place-mat and some new pigtail holders while I picked up another maternity tank top.
The Heights is not known for its acceptance of retail chains, so we were thrilled to see this store open. Now we don't have to drive into River Oaks or toward Jersey Village to shop at our favorite store.
I feel really good about shopping there after reading Newsweek's article about Target's charitable donations and community service connections. Target gives more money to charity (percentage wise) than any other retail chain. They also encourage their employees to get involved in community service work. In addition, they do not allow solicitation on their properties (that explains the lack of Salvation Army bell ringers come Christmas time) and they strive to be not only equal-opportunity employers, but equal-opportunity sales people. This explains why they chose to have their employees say, "Happy Holidays" rather than "Merry Christmas," despite all the hoopla caused by the Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh fanatics. The entire store is filled with Christmas decorations and paraphernalia while Christmas music fills the air - why shouldn't they also cater to their Jewish and Muslim customers as well by saying "Happy Holidays" to include Hanukkah and Ramadan in the holiday festivities? In an area as diverse as Houston and in a country as diverse as the U.S., no company wants to alienate entire segments of the population.
Needless to say, Sydney and I are thrilled about the neighborhood's new addition. I like it because it's affordable and community oriented while Sydney likes it because "it has lots of stuff." No matter what the reason, I'm pretty sure they'll be seeing a lot of us.
