Another major retailer is joining the growing Heritage Harbour shopping district in Bradenton, Florida. A new Target store is coming to 725 Lighthouse Dr., right next to Costco. The 148,000-square-foot store will bring a mix of groceries, apparel, home essentials, and more to this booming area.
From Farmland to Shopping Destination
Target is part of the Marketplace at Heritage Harbour, a retail center that’s quickly attracting big names. Hobby Lobby, Whole Foods Market, LongHorn Steakhouse, Five Guys, Chipotle, and Jersey Mike’s are also going to open nearby, increasing the options for local shoppers.
But before all this development, this land looked very different.
If you stood at this site in the 1950s, you wouldn’t see highways, retail stores, or even the body of water that sits near the development today. Instead, you’d see vast open farmland divided into rectangular plots.
Aerial imagery from 1957 shows the land as mostly agricultural fields with scattered tree lines and dirt roads. Interstate 75 didn’t exist yet, and the area was decades away from becoming a commercial hub.
By the early 2000s, the transformation had begun. Costco was one of the first major retailers to arrive, setting the stage for what would become one of Manatee County’s most active commercial corridors.
Community Reactions and What’s Next
The news of Target’s arrival has already sparked interest online. Coastal Luxury Partners posted on Facebook, calling it “Big News for Manatee County!” Many locals are excited about having a Target closer to home, and others see it as another sign of Heritage Harbour’s rapid growth.
As of now, there’s no official opening date, but permitting activity suggests that construction will begin soon. Once more details emerge, we’ll continue tracking updates on this evolving project.
Last Updated on February 28, 2025 by F.E.M