Target Expands to Clearwater: Another Signal of Florida’s Retail and Population Boom

Another major retailer is staking a claim in Tampa Bay. Target has announced plans for a two-story, 140,000-square-foot store at Countryside Mall in Clearwater, marking a significant investment in Pinellas County’s retail landscape and further proof of the region’s ongoing population boom.

According to reports from CL Tampa and Bay News 9, the new Target will occupy the former Sears anchor space — a prime location that will bring fresh energy to one of Clearwater’s most established retail centers.

Part of a Larger Pattern for Target

This Clearwater expansion fits a broader strategy we’ve been tracking at Extended Reach Florida — Target’s rapid rollout of new “super-store” formats across the Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida markets.

• In Bradenton, the new store near Heritage Harbour along SR-64 is one of the region’s most anticipated retail projects. Read our coverage: Target Expands to Heritage Harbour in Bradenton.
• In Wesley Chapel, Target’s massive 149,000-square-foot location opened on Pink Flamingo Lane, serving one of Pasco County’s fastest-growing areas. Read more: Wesley Chapel Welcomes New Target Super-Store.

These new openings represent a consistent corporate pattern: high-visibility sites near interstates and growing suburban populations, backed by a strong local consumer base and developer interest.

Why Clearwater, Why Now

Clearwater sits at a pivotal point in Florida’s demographic shift. The influx of new residents from across the country, combined with a robust tourism economy and expanding workforce, has created fertile ground for national retailers like Target.

Countryside Mall’s transformation from legacy anchor tenants to modern retail experiences is part of a regional trend — re-activating older commercial properties to serve today’s hybrid shopping habits.

Growth Brings Both Opportunity and Strain

For Florida’s Gulf Coast, this kind of development is good news for business — and for the community.

• Economically, it boosts local tax bases, supports job creation, and stimulates nearby housing demand.
• Socially, it helps fund improved schools and neighborhood amenities that serve growing families.
• Commercially, it demonstrates investor confidence in Florida’s mid-sized markets, once overlooked by national brands.

However, the momentum also exposes cracks in our infrastructure. The Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida road networks are already stretched thin — and each new retail anchor adds to commuter congestion, particularly along key arteries like US-19, SR-60, and McMullen Booth Road.

What’s required is proactive transportation investment and community planning; the same growth fueling our economy could challenge our quality of life that drew so many residents here in the first place.

A Reflection of What’s Next

As editor of Extended Reach Florida, I’ve reported on the pattern again and again — from Bradenton to Wesley Chapel, and now Clearwater: major brands are following population growth, and investors are following them.

The new Target at Countryside Mall isn’t just another retail project — it’s a symbol of Florida’s next chapter, where opportunity and challenge grow side by side. Notably, Target will join Whole Foods in revitalizing the Countryside Mall, which struggled during the COVID-19 crisis as declining foot traffic took its toll on retailers.

With Target’s plans to create an open walkway connecting directly to the mall, the redevelopment could breathe new life into existing stores and attract a renewed wave of shoppers. While it’s still unclear whether construction will begin in time for the upcoming holiday season, one thing is certain — this project will significantly shape Clearwater’s retail landscape heading into 2026.