Target has hit the bull’s-eye.
Manhattanites who love the store — but don’t want to schlep to Brooklyn or Jersey for their frugal fix — are in for a treat on Sunday, July 25, when the cheap and cheerful retail giant opens its first location on the island — on 117th Street in East Harlem.
In a nod to the neighborhood, the Harlem spot (517 E. 117th St.; 212-835-0860) will stock greeting cards and books in Spanish, multicultural dolls and gospel and Latin music — in addition to basics such as fresh food and homewares. But fashionistas will flock uptown for the exclusive “Harlem Designer Collections,” which features collaborations between the store and fashion designers like Stephen Burrows and Isabel and Ruben Toledo, plus kitchen wares by chef Marcus Sameulsson.
And while Fifth Avenue department stores are already stocking fall fashion, Tar-jey is all about the now. Swimwear, summer dresses and sweet seasonal kitchen accessories are the big draws. The Toledos’ collection of beachwear (psychedelic printed bikinis, priced from $18 to $35) and Burrows’ cheery knit dresses and tees ($20-$35) are sure to become August Hamptons staples.
“It’s summertime! It’s hot out! Manhattan is an island. And we love to celebrate,” says Ruben Toledo of the collection he created with his wife. “We are both island people, having been born in Cuba, and summertime, swimming, and beach life is one of our favorite states of mind.”
Each collection will benefit the Harlem community, with 5 percent of each product’s sale price going to a local charity of the designer’s choice.