County treasurer opposed to Target store replacing Macy’s on Magnificent Mile

Cook County Treasurer and Chicago Star Media advisory board member Maria Pappas spoke out against Target's potential arrival on the Magnificent Mile, which would potentially replace the Macy’s store at the Water Tower Place, 835 N. Michigan Ave.

In a WGN radio interview last Friday, Pappas said, “You don't put Target next to Gucci, Louis Vuitton and everything else on Oak Street," further claiming a Target store would “damage the reputation of Michigan Avenue and nearby Oak Street. It's a no-no. It demeans the quality of Michigan Avenue.” 

Macy's, which occupies 323,812 square feet in Water Tower Place and sections of all eight floors including the mezzanine level, announced in January it would close its store after 45 years on the historic Magnificent Mile due to a combination of civil unrest resulting in lootings over the summer, as well as losses from the coronavirus pandemic, according to numerous press releases. 

Target declined to comment on whether it was considering a Water Tower place store, but according to the Chicago Tribune, real estate brokers commented on the possibility of Target taking over Water Tower Place. A Target spokeswoman says the company still has no specific news on whether Chicago is included in future expansion plans. 

Target faced a backlash after closing South Side stores in Chatham and Morgan Park about two years ago. It has since opened a series of smaller urban stores throughout the Chicago area.