In September 2023, Target announced the closure of nine stores in four states, including three locations in Portland, citing ongoing problems with theft and "organized retail crime"
. The stores that were closed were:
- Portland Galleria on Morrison Street
- Powell Boulevard location
- Hollywood District location on Halsey Street
These closures were part of a larger decision to shut down 15 stores across the U.S. for the same reasons
. The company stated that it could not continue operating these stores because theft and organized retail crime were threatening and contributing to unsustainable business performance
. However, some experts have questioned whether the company's explanation for the store closures is the full picture, as the three Portland stores did not necessarily have the highest crime rates
. Additionally, small-format stores like these can't absorb the losses that larger Target locations can, even if they see fewer thefts
