Target is NOT targeting Epping...but something is

Photo above is a preliminary artist's rendering of what the new Brickyard Square shopping center in Epping (behind Burger King) will look like, though no stores have been identified for it just yet. Click on it for a larger look.

For those of you who have been frothing at the mouth after hearing the rumor of a Target store coming to Epping, sorry, but it's not happening. Target was long rumored to be one of the anchor stores moving into the new Brickyard Square shopping plaza being built at the intersection of Route 101 and 125. You can see where the land has been cleared behind Burger King. Well, I spoke with a Target spokeswoman recently who told me that no, Target had no interest in Epping. But don't worry, it'll be close by. Target has inked a deal to move into the new Granite Meadows retail plaza planned off Exit 4 in Raymond. At least we won't have to travel too far west, or east for that matter. Don't forget, Target's also going into Greenland on Route 33.

So, if Target isn't going in behind Burger King, what is? No one knows. The developer for the project, Waterstone Retail Development, isn't talking, but man, they're doing a lot of clearing. I suspect that in the next couple of months the developer will be back before the Epping Planning Board with plans showing all the stores that'll be coming to the site. I did make one recommendation a couple of months ago when I interviewed the vice president of real estate development for Waterstone Retail Development. I told him Epping would be the perfect spot for a Barnes and Noble. He smiled. Let's see if they take my advice.

In the meantime, if you're looking for department store shopping in Epping, at least you've got Wal-Mart. By the way, I've been told it's one of the highest producing Wal-Mart stores in New England. That says something about the need for more shopping opportunities.