- The Target in Barboursville was forced to close on February 2 when a hill gave way and part of the building slid.
- Shocking video shows giant crack in collapsed corner of store
A Target superstore in West Virginia closed after a hillside slide caused it to collapse, tearing off a corner of the building.
Shocking video shows a giant crack in the corner of the store in Barboursville, where the ground gave way, causing it to fall.
The store closed on Feb. 2 when the hill first slid, and then when it descended even further on Wednesday, the store was forced to close its doors indefinitely.
It is not yet known what caused the slide, but three families were evacuated from their homes behind the Target, and the retail chain covered their moving expenses.
Target said they are working to “remove the damaged portion of the store” starting this week and will take “additional steps to prepare for construction in the coming months.”
The hill collapsed and took the corner of the store with it.
The hill began to slide on February 2 and then worsened on Wednesday.
A Target spokesperson told USA Today: “The safety of our team, guests and neighbors is our top priority, and we continue to work at our Barboursville store to address the recent earth movement.”
They added: “We continue to closely evaluate the condition of the site and are partnering with local officials to secure the area and repair the store as safely as possible,” Target added in its statement.
Referring to the three homes that were evacuated, Target said that “local officials have notified nearby homeowners of the situation” and that the company is “taking steps to support them.”
Barboursville Mayor Chris Tatum told WSAZ last week that there is not believed to be any danger to other businesses in the area and that they will remain operational.
But water supply to the area has been limited as authorities investigate the hill slide, and a spokesperson for West Virginia American Water told WSAZ that the initial slide on Feb. 2 had damaged its water main.
Mayor Tatum said the perimeter and road behind the building also sustained significant damage.
In an update Wednesday, Tatum took issue with crowds coming to see the damage.
The store has been forced to close indefinitely while engineers arrive.
The mayor criticized that crowds came to see the damage
He said “looky loo” outsiders were “invading the neighborhood,” writing on Facebook: “Yes the hillside is moving, yes Target knows it and is trying to keep people safe.”
‘To anyone invading the Meadowcreek neighborhood, just know that most residents have expressed their displeasure about the additional traffic and flashy bathrooms.
‘You wouldn’t want people milling around in your driveways or gardens either.
‘They fear for the safety of their homes from criminals, in addition to structural damage. Law enforcement will be diligent in extra patrols, but give these people some privacy and construction crews room to work.
“The safety of all those affected is the primary concern.”