If you’ve ever tried to navigate the intersection of Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street on a Saturday afternoon, you know it’s basically a contact sport. Between the B41 buses lurching past and the constant stream of commuters pouring out of the DeKalb Avenue station, the energy is high. Right in the middle of this beautiful, loud Brooklyn mess is the Target Fulton Street Brooklyn NY location, tucked inside the massive CityPoint complex.
It's not your typical suburban Target.
Forget the sprawling parking lots and the rows of red carts stretching into infinity. This is vertical retail. It’s dense. It’s often crowded. Honestly, it’s one of the most polarizing places to shop in Downtown Brooklyn because it’s either a lifesaver for a quick grocery run or a labyrinth of empty shelves and long lines depending on the hour. People call it the "CityPoint Target," but its official identity is tied to that Fulton Street address, serving as a weirdly essential anchor for a neighborhood that has transformed from a gritty commercial strip into a high-rise luxury hub over the last decade.
Why Target Fulton Street Brooklyn NY feels different from the rest
Standard Targets are designed to keep you wandering. This one is designed to get you in and out, though the layout sometimes fights you on that. Because it occupies multiple levels within a mall structure, the flow is unconventional. You’ve got the pharmacy and beauty sections fighting for space near the entrance, while the grocery section occupies a significant chunk of the floor plan to cater to the thousands of residents living in the towers directly above it, like 70 Fleet St and the Brooklyn Point building.
The demographics here are wild. You'll see NYU Tandon students grabbing cheap desk lamps, parents from nearby Fort Greene pushing high-end strollers through the toy aisle, and commuters snagging a literal loaf of bread before hopping on the Q train. It’s a microcosm of Brooklyn’s current state of flux.
One thing you’ll notice immediately: the security.
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Retail theft has hit urban centers hard, and this specific location is a case study in that reality. Don't be surprised to find basic items like laundry detergent, deodorant, or even some toothpaste behind plexiglass. It’s annoying. It adds ten minutes to your trip because you have to hunt down an associate with a key. But it’s the trade-off for having a big-box store in a high-traffic transit hub.
The Inventory Struggle
Let’s be real about the stock levels. If you are looking for a specific limited-edition designer collaboration, Target Fulton Street Brooklyn NY is a gamble. Because the foot traffic is so intense, the "good stuff" disappears within hours of hitting the floor.
I’ve talked to locals who swear by the order pickup service here just to avoid the disappointment of walking three flights of escalators only to find the "Threshold" candles they wanted are sold out. The grocery section is surprisingly robust, though. They carry a decent amount of fresh produce, which is a big deal in a part of Brooklyn where the nearest full-scale supermarket might be a bit of a hike depending on which direction you’re walking. It’s not Wegmans, but for a Target, the meat and dairy sections hold their own.
Navigating the CityPoint Maze
Getting to the store is half the battle. If you’re driving, God bless you. Parking in Downtown Brooklyn is an expensive nightmare. There is a garage at CityPoint, but the rates will likely cost more than your actual Target haul unless you’re buying a TV. Most people arrive via the subway.
The DeKalb Ave station (B, Q, R trains) is literally right there.
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Once you’re inside CityPoint, you have to contend with the fact that Target shares space with the Dekalb Market Hall—one of the best food courts in the city—and an Alamo Drafthouse. It is very easy to go in for paper towels and end up eating a Katz’s pastrami sandwich and seeing a three-hour movie.
The store layout itself is split. You have to use the escalators or the (often slow) elevators to move between the home goods and the apparel sections. It feels disjointed. It lacks the cohesive "Target circle" feel where everything flows into the next department. Instead, it feels like a series of interconnected boutiques that happen to all sell red-branded merchandise.
Peak Hours and When to Pivot
If you value your sanity, do not go here on a Sunday at 3:00 PM.
That is the "danger zone." The lines for self-checkout will wrap around the clothing racks, and the staff—who are generally doing their best under high pressure—can look understandably frayed. The sweet spot is Tuesday or Wednesday mornings. Around 9:30 AM, the shelves are usually freshly stocked from the overnight shipment, and the aisles are clear of the after-school rush of teenagers.
If Target Fulton Street Brooklyn NY is too picked over, you have options. The Target at Atlantic Terminal is just a few blocks away. It’s larger, but arguably even more chaotic because of the LIRR connection. There’s also the newer, smaller "small-format" Target in Boerum Hill on Schermerhorn Street. That one is better for grab-and-go snacks but lacks the furniture and electronics depth of the Fulton Street location.
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The Tech and Pickup Factor
Target has leaned heavily into its app, and at the Fulton Street location, it’s basically mandatory. The "Drive Up" service isn't really a thing here for obvious "it's a busy Brooklyn street" reasons, but the in-store pickup is efficient.
They have a dedicated counter for "Order Pickup" and "Returns" that is usually better staffed than the floor.
Pro tip: Check the app for "In-Stock" status before you leave your apartment. However, take that status with a grain of salt. If the app says there is "1 left" in stock at this location, there are actually 0. Someone probably has it in their cart, or it’s buried under a pile of discarded t-shirts in the wrong aisle. Only trust it if the stock count is 5 or higher.
Sustainability and the Bag Situation
New York’s plastic bag ban is in full effect, and Target has leaned into the reusable bag sales. They will charge you for the heavy-duty paper bags. Most locals just bring their own IKEA blue bags or backpacks. It sounds like a small detail, but you’d be surprised how many people get to the checkout and realize they have no way to carry three gallons of milk and a box of diapers back to their apartment.
Expert Strategies for a Better Experience
To actually win at shopping here, you have to treat it like a mission. This isn't a place for "retail therapy" where you wander aimlessly.
- Use the Fulton Street entrance if you’re coming from the G train or the A/C at Hoyt-Schermerhorn. It’s a slightly less congested walk than coming from the Flatbush side.
- Check the "Bullseye’s Playground" (the dollar spot) immediately. Because this store gets so many families, the cheap seasonal stuff moves incredibly fast.
- The Pharmacy is a secret weapon. The CVS inside this Target is often less busy than the standalone CVS locations nearby on Myrtle or Fulton. If you need a flu shot or a prescription moved, it’s a solid choice.
- Leverage the RedCard. Look, 5% off doesn't seem like much, but in a high-cost-of-living area like Downtown Brooklyn, it covers the "bag fee" and then some.
Target Fulton Street Brooklyn NY isn't perfect. It’s loud, the layout is a bit of a head-scratcher, and the "out of stock" signs are a frequent sight. But in a neighborhood that has become increasingly expensive, it remains one of the few places where you can get everyday essentials without paying the "boutique markup" found at smaller local grocers. It is the heartbeat of CityPoint’s retail floor, for better or worse.
Practical Next Steps for Your Visit:
- Download the Target App: Before you step foot in the store, set your location to "Brooklyn Fulton St" to see real-time pricing and aisle locations.
- Plan Your Entry: Use the DeKalb Ave subway entrance for direct access to the basement level of CityPoint, which puts you right near the Target escalators.
- Check the Weekly Ad: Sales at this urban location match the national circular, but local "clearance" endcaps are often tucked away in the back corners of the home goods section (Level 2).
- Avoid Peak Times: Aim for weekday mornings or late evenings (after 8:00 PM) to avoid the heaviest crowds and longest checkout lines.