In a statement, Target’s regional manager Allan Molloy said a 4620 square metre store was planned for Warrawong and would be open before Christmas.

The new store would create about 100 jobs, he said, and Target would look at giving roles to staff displaced by the closure of Kmart Warrawong.

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“In addition to our wider recruitment process, Target will continue to work closely with Kmart to explore redeployment opportunities for existing members of their team where possible,” he said.

Retail giant Wesfarmers operates both Kmart and Target stores.

More in Thursday’s Mercury