You know that feeling when you just need a gallon of milk, a new pair of headphones, and maybe a weirdly specific shade of throw pillow? If you live in the Twin Cities, specifically near University Avenue, you’ve probably spent more time than you’d like to admit at the Midway Target St. Paul MN location. It’s a staple. But honestly, it’s also been a lightning rod for about a dozen different urban planning and social debates over the last few years.
It’s not just a store. It’s a landmark.
Located at 1300 University Ave W, this isn't one of those shiny, new "small-format" Targets you see popping up in North Loop or near the U of M campus. It’s a massive, old-school powerhouse that sits right in the heart of the Hamline-Midway neighborhood. It’s walkable for thousands. It’s right on the Green Line. But if you’ve been there lately, you’ve probably noticed things feel... a bit different than they did five years ago.
Why the Midway Target is a logistical beast
Most people don't realize how much of a hub this place is. It's basically the anchor of the entire Midway Shopping Center area, sharing space with a massive parking lot that feels like a suburban island in the middle of a very urban stretch of St. Paul. Because it’s situated right between downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul, it catches everyone. Commuters. Students from Hamline University. Families from the North End.
The layout is a bit of a trip. Unlike the suburban Targets in Roseville or Woodbury, the Midway Target St. Paul MN has to deal with a level of foot traffic that is genuinely staggering. You’ve got the METRO Green Line stopping right outside at the Snelling Avenue station. This makes it one of the most accessible Targets in the entire state for people who don't own cars. That’s a huge deal for equity, but it also creates a very specific set of operational challenges that Target’s corporate office in Minneapolis has been trying to "solve" for a decade.
The 2020 impact and the rebuild
We have to talk about it. You can't mention this specific store without acknowledging what happened in May 2020. During the civil unrest following the death of George Floyd, the Midway Target was one of the most heavily damaged retail locations in the country. It was looted and caught fire. For months, the building sat boarded up, and there was a lot of genuine fear in the neighborhood that Target wouldn't come back.
They did, though.
When they reopened in late 2020, it wasn't just a repair job. They overhauled the interior. They focused heavily on the "Order Pickup" and "Drive Up" infrastructure because, let's face it, that's how we shop now. But the reopening was also a symbol of corporate commitment to the Midway area. Target’s CEO, Brian Cornell, was pretty vocal at the time about the importance of keeping stores in urban centers, even when the insurance premiums and "shrink" (that’s retail-speak for theft) make the bean counters nervous.
Let’s be real about the shopping experience right now
If you’re heading to the Midway Target St. Paul MN today, you need to manage your expectations. It’s busy. Like, "why are there ten people in the LEGO aisle at 10:00 AM on a Tuesday?" busy.
One thing people complain about constantly—and you’ll see this in every Google review and neighborhood Facebook group—is the "locked case" situation. It’s frustrating. You want deodorant? Locked. You want laundry detergent? Locked. You want a $5 pack of socks? Probably locked. It’s a reaction to organized retail crime that has hit the Midway harder than many other spots in the metro.
It sucks for the shopper. It makes a "quick trip" take twenty minutes longer because you have to hunt down a staff member with a key. And let’s be honest, the staff is usually stretched thin. But the alternative, according to retail analysts, is often store closure. We saw it happen with the CVS nearby. Target is trying to find a middle ground between "open for business" and "losing everything to the front door."
The neighborhood vibe shift
The area around the store is changing fast. You’ve got Allianz Field right across the street. When there’s a Minnesota United game, the whole energy of the Target parking lot shifts. It becomes a sea of "Wonderwall" jerseys. This has been great for business, but it’s made the traffic situation on Snelling and University a total nightmare on match days.
Actually, let's talk about that parking lot. It’s a bizarre piece of land. There have been ongoing discussions for years about redeveloping the "Midway Shopping Center" (the strip mall part next to Target) into something more high-density. Think apartments over retail. More green space. Less asphalt. But for now, it remains a giant concrete prairie that’s notoriously difficult to navigate during a snowstorm.
How to actually shop at Midway Target (Pro Tips)
If you have to go, go early. Like, 8:00 AM early. The shelves are stocked, the "vibe" is calm, and the Green Line hasn't started dumping a thousand people an hour onto the sidewalk yet.
- Use the App: Seriously. Because so much stuff is behind glass now, using the "Drive Up" feature is a life-saver. You sit in your car, they bring it out, and you don't have to wait for someone to unlock the toothpaste case.
- The Grocery Section: It’s actually better than you’d expect. While it’s not a "Super Target," the produce at the Midway location is usually fresher than the smaller city-format stores because the turnover is so high. Stuff doesn't sit on the shelf long enough to get gross.
- Safety and Awareness: Look, it’s an urban store. Most of the time it’s perfectly fine, but there is a heavy security presence. Don't leave your bag in the cart while you walk three aisles away to look at candles. It sounds like common sense, but the "Midway" of it all requires a bit more situational awareness than the Target in Shoreview.
What people get wrong about this location
There's this narrative that the Midway Target St. Paul MN is a "disaster zone" or "unsafe." It’s a bit of an exaggeration usually fueled by people who haven't stepped foot in the Midway in three years. Is it grittier than a suburban mall? Yeah. Is it a vital resource for a diverse, working-class neighborhood? Absolutely.
You see the whole world here. You see elderly Hmong grandmothers picking out groceries, college kids buying dorm gear, and young professionals grabbing wine before a soccer game. It’s one of the few places in St. Paul where the city’s demographics truly collide in a single checkout line.
The future of the 1300 University Ave location
What’s next? Well, Target is pouring money into AI-driven inventory management to try and keep those locked cases from being a permanent fixture, though don't hold your breath. There’s also the looming massive redevelopment of the entire "Snelling-Midway" site. As the area becomes more "premium" with the stadium and new housing, the Target will likely undergo another interior "refresh" to cater to a higher-income demographic moving into the new apartments nearby.
It’s a balancing act. Target needs to serve the people who have lived in the Midway for forty years while also appealing to the people paying $2,000 for a studio apartment two blocks away.
Actionable Steps for your next visit
- Check the Allianz Field schedule: If there’s a home game for the Loons, do not—I repeat, do not—try to shop here two hours before or one hour after the match. You will be stuck in the parking lot for an eternity.
- Download the Target Circle app: It’s the only way to see if something is actually in stock before you make the trip. "In stock" at this location is a moving target (pun intended).
- Opt for Drive-Up: If you are buying electronics, baby formula, or cosmetics, do yourself a favor and order ahead. The "wait time for a key" is often longer than the drive to the store.
- Support the locals: Since you're already in the Midway, walk a block over to check out some of the local eateries like Fasika (Ethiopian) or On's Thai Kitchen. They offer a flavor of St. Paul that you definitely won't find in the Target frozen food aisle.