BUSINESS : New Store Opens Sunday

The nation’s first multilevel Target store will open Sunday in the former Robinson’s department store in Pasadena’s Playhouse District.

Minnesota-based Target Stores expects more than 10,000 shoppers at the opening, which caps a $15-million renovation of the three-level building at 777 E. Colorado Blvd.

The new Target, the first in Pasadena, has a shopping area of about 163,000 square feet, compared with Target’s average of 120,000 square feet. It is the second-largest store among 500 Targets nationwide.

Target officials say they worked closely with city planners to maintain the character of the 1950s building.

A substantial portion of development funds were sunk into construction of eight large elevators. Six are designed to carry 16 customers and four shopping carts. Two are for cargo.

Elevators also were installed in a three-level parking structure behind the building.

The Pasadena store is the 29th in the Los Angeles area. Target officials say they have hired more than 200 workers, most of whom work part time and earn between $4.75 and $5 an hour.