Home Care In Denton, TX

The retailer's new Denton, Texas, store offers more space for merchandise and additional room for same-day fulfillment services

The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex continues to be a hotbed of retail development, and Target is the latest chain to expand its presence in North Texas.

Recently, the Minneapolis-based mass merchant opened a 147,000-square-foot store in Denton. The location, according to Target, is one of the retailer’s largest new builds and offers a glimpse into the company’s future as it focuses on large-format stores. The added space accommodates larger-than-average sections for fresh and frozen foods and beverages, highlighted by organic product options, a bakery and deli.

Beyond consumables, the additional square footage at the Denton North store also provides room for an Apple at Target shop-in-shop, a Starbucks café, and a large assortment of school supplies and sports apparel for local students.

More space has also been allocated for backroom fulfillment, which is about five times larger than older Target locations of similar size. This will support digital orders and the retailer’s Drive Up and Order Pickup services.

The Denton North store is an example of Target’s new strategy in the Lone Star State. Two additional locations are slated to open this year, with at least five more planned for the Dallas metro area in the coming years. Companywide, Target plans to open 300 new stores similar to the new Denton store in the years ahead.

Target’s strategy to open larger stores, in the range of 150,000 square feet, was launched in late 2022. The goal is to improve support for same-day services while allowing for a larger product assortment across store departments. The newer locations also feature increased lighting, natural elements, localized design features, and built-in sustainability.

Target is not alone in its desire to expand across the Dallas metropolitan area. Earlier this year, Kroger acquired land in Little Elm, Texas, about 20 miles east of Denton. The site, located at US-380 and FM-2931, will place the grocer’s new store adjacent to the yet-to-be-constructed, 225,000-square-foot Target-anchored Bates Towne Crossing.

Additionally, San Antonio, Texas-based H-E-B also continues to expand across its home state, with the Dallas region a target for new store development.

In each community where Target opens a new store, we're adding a chapter of growth — like in Denton, Texas.

Of course, Denton already had high growth potential. The town is home to two colleges — the University of North Texas and Texas Woman’s University — and to rapid development, with new highways, businesses and homes rising alongside its ranches and cattle pastures.

“It’s a little town that doesn’t realize it’s become a big town because it’s still friendly,” says Rick S., property management lead for Denton North (T-2917), which opened this past April, making it Target’s second store in the community.

Rick started with Target as a cart attendant nearly 20 years ago, returned as a college student and eventually found a life-long career at the Bullseye. “We still have that same vibe from when I first moved up here with the ranchers coming into town and the students,” he says. “And it's still that way, but on a huge scale now.”

As Target tracks to open more than 300 new stores like Denton North over the next decade, we’re adding to a story of growth for our business and to each of our communities, providing good jobs and the opportunity to work with great people, and bringing the magic of Target to more consumers.

It’s about showing up — for our newest team members, guests and neighborhoods.

“There’s a lot of pride that I have behind this grand opening and a chance for Target to make another positive impact on this community, on a lot of people,” says Store Director LaShon H., who oversaw Denton North’s opening and has led our stores in Plano and Dallas. “It’s not just a new Target store. It’s a destination.”

LaShon helped hire Denton North’s more than 200 team members, many of them locals and college students looking for a part-time job that fits their needs or a place to build a career. As a leader, one of the biggest compliments she gets is when team members show up with pride, ready to work. And she sees her own role in making this happen.

I call myself Coach LaShon here. We are like a football team when we are going through this journey. But a coach can’t be successful if their team doesn't show up, want to play for them, see the vision and then execute.

What’s even a bigger win? When one of those team members is inspired to take the lead, too.

“When I started with Target 18 years ago, I honestly didn't see a career,” says Mitch E., an executive team lead who started his Target career at our first Denton store. “But after I spent a couple of years as a team member, I had aspirations of wanting to be a leader. I had an executive team lead that I looked up to a lot and so I saw where I wanted to go and started thinking about a career with Target, not just a job to get me by.”

From there, he rose up the ranks to logistics, senior and then executive team leads for general merchandise and food. Now Mitch’s favorite part of his job? Getting to mentor, teach, train and develop aspiring leaders, too.

At about 147,000 square feet, Denton North is one of our biggest new builds — and an example of what’s to come as we focus on large-format stores. With that extra space, it can accommodate a bigger-than-average fresh and frozen food and beverage section, including organic produce options, bakery and deli. Helping to keep the store in stock: our Dallas sortation center and Denton food and beverage supply chain facility, which serves our 158 stores in Texas.

From assortment to reliability, it’s a true differentiator.

“We can show up for guests for all their grocery needs where they don't have to look at a competitor,” says LaShon. “We can be their one and only, from fresh produce to amazingly priced meats. Everything is affordable and then joy can be given when you walk through the departments in our store. [It has guests saying] ‘This is bright, this is big. I’m glad you’re on this side of town.’”

More square footage also means room for an Apple at Target shop-in-shop, Starbucks Cafe, and large assortment of school supplies and sports apparel for local students. It also provides more room for a backroom fulfillment space that’s about five times larger than our older stores of a similar size, to support guests’ digital orders and our convenient Drive Up and Order Pickup same-day services.

In every community where we open a store, Target makes a commitment to serve and strengthen it. In 2024 in Texas, where we have nearly 160 stores, this amounted to more than $29.3 million in product and cash donations. And in the Dallas Fort Worth area, where Denton is located, Target provided:

That support doesn’t just come from the corporate level. It’s also powered by team members like LaShon, who are committed to treating everyone in the community as a Target guest. “I pride myself on doing that with everybody, whether it’s my leadership, a team member or a stranger in the parking lot,” she says.

This community support also comes through at our grand openings. At Denton North, this included appearances by the Dallas Mavericks dance team and our very own Bullseye mascot. Guests also had a chance to sign a community board and answer the question: What does Denton North mean to me and how can Target show up for this community?

I look forward to hearing and seeing those messages so I can deliver on what they want and need.

Denton North is the latest example of Target’s new store strategy in Texas, with two more locations slated to open later this year, and at least five more planned for the Dallas metro area over the next couple of years. Even better: This combination of newness and affordable choices, rewarding jobs and community commitment is rolling out to about 20 stores nationwide in 2025, with many more to come in the decade ahead.

Ian Burke said he felt responsible to give the dog a new home.

DENTON, Texas — Every day, dozens of dogs at the City of Denton Animal Shelter wait for a new home. On Tuesday, one of them finally got his second chance — thanks to a familiar face.

Floyd, a 70-pound dog, was adopted by Ian Burke, a Denton mail carrier who had known the dog for years.

"I'm taking this guy home with me," Burke said after finalizing the adoption. "I don’t take it lightly, [this isn't] some random dog I’m adopting."

Their connection goes back three years. Burke met Floyd while delivering mail to his then-owner, an elderly wheelchair-bound Vietnam veteran, he said.

"This is a dog that was loved and cherished by a former customer of mine," Burke said, remembering the first time he met Floyd delivering mail. "He got out the door and he charged at me, right like a little puppy.”

Burke told WFAA he enjoyed stopping by their house each week.

“[Floyd's owner] checked his mail, which I liked,” Burke said with a smile, remembering the man fondly.

But about a year and a half ago, Burke's route changed, and he no longer saw Floyd or his owner. Then, last Saturday, the mail carrier who took over Burke’s route told him the man had passed away, and that Floyd was now at the city shelter.

Burke didn’t hesitate.

“I went down to the shelter at about 10 a.m. when they opened. I got there at 9:50 a.m. to make sure I was first in line,” he said.

He was.

And he left the shelter with Floyd.

"I kind of feel responsible to take care of him,” Burke said. “I think [his former owner] would be pleased to know his former mailman is taking good care of his dog."

Burke hopes Floyd’s story inspires others to consider adopting.

“Probably one of the best things the postal service inadvertently issued me,” he said with a smile.

Ranchman’s Ponder Steakhouse, a 75-year Denton County landmark and once among America’s most famous small-town cafes, has been sold to Denton County restaurateur Marty Bryan and will reopen as part of the Marty B’s empire. owner Dave Ross said.

The little back-road restaurant at 110 W. Bailey St., Ponder, has been closed nearly two years since Ross retired.

In its heyday, Ranchman’s was known for 32-ounce T-bones, chicken-fried steaks, burgers, pies and cobblers. It hosted celebrities from sports, TV and movies, including actors Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway during the making of the 1967 movie “Bonnie and Clyde.”

It was also where iconic Texas author Larry McMurtry was inspired to name his bestselling novel “Lonesome Dove.”

According ro Ross, Bryan hopes to expand and convert the West Bailey Street property to a larger complex including a bar, concert space and coffee shop.

His Marty B’s Is a larger steakhouse, Tex-Mex and barbecue restaurant and entertainment complex ay 2664 Farm Road 407 in Bartonville, with spinoff restaurants in Argyle and Flower Mound.

Bryan could not be reached.

Ranahman’s remodeled during the COVID pandemic,adding a new kitchen but keeping the same orignal oak-paneled dining room, a throwback to 1951.

Shortly before Ross retired, Ranchman’s was featured on an episode of “The Texas Bucket List” TV show for its contest-winning chicken-fried steaks.

The restaurant also has been featured on the Food Network national TV shows such as “FoodNation with Bobby Flay.”

Ross was the steakhouse’s second long-term owner. It was founded by Grace “Pete” Jackson and her husband, R.L., in the late 1940s and became a gathering place for the county and a stopover for motorists taking a shortcut to Ponder, then a dwindling Denton County farm town 30 miles north of Fort Worth.

Ranchman’s was originally known for T-bones and rib-eyes cut in-house. But ever since the Food Network came to town, Ranchman’s has been better known for chicken-fried steaks and burgers. The pies and cobblers were still made from 30-year cook Evelyn “Granny” Stack’s recipes.

Ranchman’s was never more small-town than on one busy Friday night in the 1970s, when an overwhelmed Stack strode into the middle of the dining room and waved her spatula until she commanded attention.

“Y’all!” she shouted. “Can’t y’all see I’m gonna have to have some help?”

Customers started pouring tea, clearing tables or baking rolls.

McMurtry, the quintessential Texas novelist, said that Ranchman’s was his favorite restaurant and that he would often make the 100-mile drive from his home in Archer City near Wichita Falls.

McMurtry told how he had just left the cafe in the early 1980s when he saw an old church bus marked “Lonesome Dove Baptist Church.”

“If ever I had an epiphany it was at that moment: I had, at last, found a title for the trail driving book” he was writing.

“Lonesome Dove” went on to win a Pulitzer Prize and was made into a TV classic.

That was 20 years after Beatty, Dunaway and other actors visited during the Denton-area filming of the movie “Bonnie and Clyde.”

Their photos still hang on the dining room wall, along with those of sports stars, racing drivers and other celebrities who found their way to Ponder.

Until the 1980s, Ranchman’s didn’t even have indoor restrooms — only an outhouse. But “what’s important about this place is the unique sense of community it brings,” Ross said.

“People at different tables talk to each other. People from across the country come here and say, ‘This feels like home.’ “