City leaders broke ground on a new Target store at the Cross County Shopping Center today.

"It's a very popular store, and the people of Yonkers should be very, very proud of,” says Mayor Mike Spano.

News 12 is told the 132,000-square-foot store will occupy most of the space that once housed Sears. It’s also expected to bring in a total of 700 construction and permanent jobs. 

Target’s 40-year lease at Cross County is unprecedented, especially during a pandemic.

"Not many deals of this size were happening post-COVID, and this is just a commitment to Cross County and the city of Yonkers,” says Craig Deitelzweig, president and CEO of Marx Realty.

According to Spano, the major national retailer has had its eye on the city for decades.

"For 25 years, Target has not given up on Yonkers,” says Spano. “This is now the third site they were looking to go. You know what? Now it's a reality, Target is here in Yonkers at the Cross County Shopping Center.”

A pair of students from Sarah Lawrence College have great anticipation for the store’s opening. "I'm really excited about it, I think it's really good for move-in essentials,” says student Maria Guinnip.

Student Francesca Walker tells News 12 the new addition could be competition for Stop and Shop."Sometimes the Stop and Shop is a little too packed, so I think having two different places to have your groceries will be nice,” says Walker.

The new Target will be the first in Yonkers and is expected to open in 2022.