March 6th, 2006, was a landmark date in Mt. Juliet history. It was on that particular day that Target officially opened in Providence Place. “Providence” is the type of retail environment that makes community leaders salivate with all the potential tax revenue. Once fully opened, the shopping center will contain a Belk, Best Buy, Petsmart, the state’s largest Kroger, TJ Maxx, among a handful of other tenates. Target was just one of the first to open.
It was just few days ago that I made my expedition to Company Target. I bought 2 items – a 12 Pack of 7up and Sunkist for $2 each. The receipt was the type of thing my sister would take pinking shears to and post in her scrapbook – a retail receipt with a Mt. Juliet address on it. Mt. Julietians had been wanting this for years. Yet Walmart or Kmart even was not interested in the retail business in Mt. Juliet and prefered to have their business just across the county line in Davidson county. It was almost like they were thumbing their noses at Mt. Julietians, thinking the community had no interest, or no ability to support retail establishment. So they built their stores in Lebanon and Hermitage making Mt. Julietians drive 30 minutes or more down the road for their retail shopping experience.
Yet with the addition of Target and others in Providence, suddenly Walmart is interested in Mt. Juliet, in a spot of land across the street from Arby’s and Captain D’s. It’ll be a Super Walmart (or so I’m told).
My first experience with Target was 20 years ago. Target was a hard to reach place 45 minutes away in Rivergate. We would go there for school supplies sales. Somehow at that point Target was just another Big K clone.
Yet Target matured and became what it is today, a fresh alternative to the Walmart circus. I don’t think I’ve seen junk offered for sale at Target, at least not in the droves that Walmart sells it. Target has wide aisles, price checking machines, and competitent employees.
I am impressed and bewildered at the same time at the bohemoth known at Walmart. Why do so many people go in droves to Walmart? Why has Walmart convinced everyone in Mt. Juliet to drive 15 minutes further, past 2 Dollar Generals, in order to buy their health a beauty products? I have no idea. Maybe its because it has everything under one roof. Motor oil, fried chicken, Scotch tape. It is all there.
Yet Target has trumped Walmart in some respects. Walmart is known as a redneck gathering. Walmart is synonymous with cheap stuff. While Target shoppers don’t have to be afraid to mention to their neighbors that they bought their coffee table or kitchen chairs at Target.
I will continue to shop at the Mt. Juliet Target as long as it is easily accessible. It doesn’t matter that they might sell shampoo at 50 cents higher than Walmart. It is the fact that I don’t have to park so far away from the store entrance. It is also the fact that I don’t have to wait longer than 5 minutes in the checkout line.