Target Corp. is preparing to open its first retail location in Little Elm next month, marking a significant expansion into the suburb situated roughly 30 miles north of downtown Dallas. The new store will occupy a 148,000-square-foot facility located at 26550 E. University Drive, positioned along the U.S. 380 corridor near the boundary between Little Elm and Aubrey.
The retailer has stated that the location will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is expected to employ approximately 200 people. This opening is part of a broader $5 billion capital investment plan for 2026, which includes the launch of 30 new stores and the remodeling of 130 existing locations across the country.
The decision to establish a presence in Little Elm aligns with the area's demographic shifts. The suburb has experienced substantial population growth, with its resident count reaching nearly 70,000, an increase of more than 40 percent since 2020. This expansion reflects a wider trend of rapid development across North Texas suburbs.
Little Elm will be one of two new Target stores opening in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during July. The second location is scheduled to open in Forney at 11520 E. U.S. 80. The company, which is headquartered in Minnesota, currently holds the position of the third-largest owner of retail space in North Texas, according to CoStar data. The retailer controls approximately 7.15 million square feet of space across more than 40 locations in the region.
