Target Stores Inc., the big Minneapolis-based discount retail chain, plans to begin renovating its store in the Northpointe Shopping Center on Spokanes North Side in mid-January.


The remodeling work will involve reconfiguring the interior space in the front portion of the store, at 9770 N. Newport Hwy., and adding a pharmacy and an optical center there, says Kristin Jahnke, Targets Minneapolis-based spokeswoman.


She says that 485 of the chains 978 stores nationwide already have pharmacies, while only 106 Target stores currently have optical centers.


The remodeling work is expected to be completed by mid-July, and the store will remain open throughout the project, Jahnke says. She declines to disclose how much the renovation here is expected to cost or other details about the project.


A general contractor for the project hasnt been selected yet, and Jahnke was uncertain about when construction bids would be sought.


Target tries to renovate each of its stores every seven to 11 years, depending on the amount of foot traffic that each store gets, Jahnke says. This will be the first renovation for the North Side Target store, which opened in 1990.


We want to keep them looking like our most current prototype, Jahnke says.


Target, which also operates a store in the Spokane Valley, at 13724 E. Sprague, doesnt plan to renovate the Valley store for now. It opened in 1994.