After initial fanfare and growth, losses mounted quickly
As early as 2004 there was speculation that Target, flush with cash from the sale of its department store chains, was interested in acquiring Canadian mass merchant retailer Zellers from its parent, Hudson's Bay Co.
January 2011: Target announces a $1.85 billion deal to acquire leasing interests in 220 Zellers stores. Target says it plans to open 100 to 150 stores in Canada over a two-year period starting in 2013 and that it would invest $1 billion on renovations and updates.
May 2011: Target Corp. in a trademark fight in Canada with Target Apparel, a 15-store division of Fairweather Ltd., over the Target name in Canada.
September 2011: Target selects final leases it will take over from Zellers Inc., a total of 189 locations. Target says it will spend $10 million to $11 million per store on remodeling in anticipation of re-openings in 2013. Each store expected to employ 150 to 200 people.
February 2012: Target reaches agreement with Fairweather Ltd. over naming issues in Canada.
March to December 2012: Zellers stores in Canada are shut down.
July 2012: Target spokeswoman says retailer will invest $3.5 billion in Canada and open 200 stores within 10 years.
