By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEST CHESTER TWP. - This community's latest big box retailer opened this week. The Target store is along a newly bustling business district on Cox Road off Tylersville Road adjacent to Interstate 75.

The retailer had a "soft opening" Tuesday night for invited guests and is now open to the public. A grand opening is planned Sunday.

"People have been driving in and out of the parking lot now for a few weeks," store team leader Kathy McTernan said Wednesday, adding that she expects a "zoo" this weekend.

"Target's guest is a female, 20s to early 40s, stay-at-home (mom) with a nice income. That's West Chester."

In addition to the typical discount retail offerings, the 125,000 square-foot store sells frozen foods, milk and orange juice.

Colerain Township also saw a Target open this week on Colerain Avenue near Interstate 275, McTernan said. Both stores are expected to draw customers from existing Targets in Deerfield Township and Springdale.

Other tenants in West Chester's 528,000-square-foot Target shopping plaza, Voice of America Centre, are expected to open this fall.

They include Linens 'N Things, Pier 1 Imports, Michaels arts and crafts and Famous Footwear. Restaurants coming later this year are Chipotle Mexican Grill, Ruby Tuesday, Longhorn Steakhouse and Panera Bread.

A Peoples Community Bank building will serve as new headquarters for the Southeastern Butler County Chamber of Commerce and a new Butler County workforce academy.

Two other retail centers along Cox just north of Tylersville are on the way. The Marketplace at University Pointe Retail Center, across from Target, is next to the $100 million UC Physicians medical campus at University Pointe.

And this week, West Chester Township trustees began considering rezoning for about 10 acres for retail and office space on the northwest corner of Cox and Tylersville roads near the Dudley's Dented Silo Pub.

So far, a Banc One building is the only tenant but others are expected to spill over from the Target plaza once it fills.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com