AUBURN — Nearly two years after retail giant Target first confirmed it was opening a new store in the area, it is officially open for business at 603 Center St.

No big splash, no media event, the doors quietly opened to some special guests at 5 p.m. Tuesday, including Auburn Mayor Jason Levesque, who posted photos of his visit Tuesday night to social media.

The 105,000-square-foot store, formerly a Kmart, is the sixth one in Maine. The others are in Augusta, Bangor, Biddeford, South Portland and Topsham.

In an email announcing the Nov. 6 grand opening, the company said it hired about 250 employees to staff its daily operations. The store offers groceries, a CVS pharmacy and a Starbucks cafe. Hours are 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday.

Target is seen as a welcome alternative for consumers in the Lewiston-Auburn area, with its main competitors being Walmart and BJ’s Wholesale club, which requires a membership.

Kmart closed its store in the fall of 2019 and a number of potential new lessees emerged, including U-Haul.

Target began renovating the building in July 2021, work that was projected to cost just under $10 million. The opening was delayed until this year with no explanation offered by the company.

Target has nearly 2,000 stores nationwide and said it planned to open 30 this year.

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