Bohler Helps Bring Target to Bridgehampton 

Target has officially opened its new Bridgehampton store at Bridgehampton Commons, bringing one of the nation’s largest retailers to the South Fork of Long Island. The 90,000 SF store celebrated its grand opening October 11 and includes a CVS Pharmacy, Starbucks Café, Drive Up, Order Pickup, and same-day delivery services.

Bohler’s Melville team provided surveying, site civil engineering, and permitting services to help transform the former Kmart property for Target’s use, finding opportunities within the existing site to accommodate the retailer’s program while navigating the Town of Southampton’s distinct design requirements.

Making Target’s Program Work Within an Existing Site

Target’s plan was to retain the existing building shell and much of the former Kmart infrastructure, challenging the team to adapt to an established site to Target’s current development and operational standards.

Bohler evaluated the existing grading, drainage, utilities, parking, and circulation to determine where modifications were needed. The team confirmed and supplemented the existing drainage system, incorporated the sewer and site infrastructure required for the new in-store Starbucks, and reconfigured site elements to support Target operations, including dedicated pickup parking and refurbished loading docks.

Bohler also coordinated with Target and the Town’s Architectural Review Board on improvements to give the existing property a refreshed identity, including updates to the storefront environment, landscaping, planters, trellises, and outdoor seating.

Navigating the Hamptons’ Distinct Design Requirements

Adapting the existing site was only part of the challenge. Meeting the Town’s expectations required close coordination between Target’s architectural and design teams, project counsel, and Bohler. As the building and architectural plans evolved through the review process, Bohler worked to ensure the site design continued to support Target’s operational needs while helping the broader team respond to local requirements.

That coordination played out in several ways. While Target initially proposed its typical storefront design, the Town’s Architectural Review Board sought a façade more consistent with Bridgehampton’s character. Bohler worked alongside project counsel and Target’s design and architectural teams to help advance an approach that balanced the retailer’s objectives with the Town’s expectations, including a modified color scheme that satisfied the Town’s review.

The team took a similar problem–solving approach to site operations. Target’s program called for dedicated Drive Up stalls to accommodate changing customer shopping patterns, while the Town wanted assurance that the revised parking configuration could safely and efficiently accommodate parking and circulation. Bohler coordinated with the project’s traffic engineer and attorney to present the updated plan and demonstrate how the new Drive Up stalls could be integrated without compromising site circulation.

The Town also requested additional ADA parking and pathway improvements serving adjacent businesses within the shopping center. To keep the project moving, Bohler developed an expedited path forward that worked within the constraints of the existing built site, incorporating the requested accessibility improvements while maintaining progress toward approval.

“This project was truly a team effort,” said Alex Holleman, Senior Project Manager at Bohler. “We had to make Target’s program work within the existing Kmart site while also addressing the Town’s specific expectations for how the property should look and function. Bringing the civil, architectural, design, legal, and permitting teams together was critical to getting all the pieces to work.”

Giving an Established Retail Site a New Future

For Bohler, the project demonstrates what becomes possible when national retail experience is paired with local knowledge and a willingness to rethink the path forward. Successful redevelopment requires more than fitting a new tenant into an old space. It requires understanding how the retailer operates, recognizing the opportunity within an existing site, and finding practical solutions that can move the project toward approval.

In Bridgehampton, each new constraint required the team to adapt it’s approach. By connecting Target’s operational priorities with the realities of the existing site and local review requirements, Bohler helped create a path forward for a new Target designed to serve both the retailer and the community. Read more.