New Target forces out local Hillsborough Street businesses

Some of the businesses between Horne Street and Pogue Street have to relocate, and soon.

“I've been coming here at least 10 years I would say,” customer Michael Shearer said. “I’m not opposed to having a small Target that would be really convenient but its sad for these businesses.’

The owner of Reverie is among four business owners notified Oct. 31st that their monthly leases won't be renewed after November.

“Just all pretty upset about it, nobody knows where they're going to go,” Tony McDowell said.

McDowell works at University Cuts. He said the reason they're being pushed out is to make room for higher-paying tenants that will fill the bottom level of a new Target store.

“We're real important to this community. We cut a whole lot of people over there, the football team, walk-ins, a lot of regulars, a lot of regulars,” McDowell said.

But, he said he worries about his employees, his customers and his neighbors.

The new development firm says it plans to repurpose the current building and fill it with retailers on the street level. Those tenants have not yet been confirmed.