Gear up, bargain hunters. State College's first Target store, 315 Lowes Blvd., is scheduled to open its doors Sunday.

Although store managers told local authorities they wanted to hold a "soft opening," meaning they would be open a few days before the actual official grand opening, plans for the event fell through because of problems with sewer plans, said Ned Liggett, plans examiner for the Centre Regional Planning Commission.

Liggett said yesterday that a certificate of occupancy had yet to be issued to the store, but he expected one to be signed and issued today.

The store needs to get a signature for sewer and zoning, Liggett said. He said they had fulfilled requirements for building but was unsure of what the situation was with sewer requirements.

Revisions had to be made so the waste from the store's sewers was taken to a pumping station something that had not originally been planned for, Liggett said.

Centre Regional Planning Commission director Bob Bini said he had a conversation recently with the codes office related to whether or not Target had met all of the code requirements. It was his understanding that they had and the store would open on schedule.

To open on schedule the store is legally bound to obtain a certificate of occupancy by today.

"If they choose to open their doors to the public they do so as a violation of the law," Liggett said, but added his agency does not "police" these issues and action would likely not be taken immediately if they did open early.

The Target Corporation, which also owns several department stores, is currently employing a very aggressive growth strategy, said Kristin Janke, Target spokeswoman.

"We've made a concerted expansion effort in the Northeast region," Janke said.

Three other Target stores are also celebrating their grand opening in Pennsylvania Sunday.

A spokesperson at Target's regional office said plans have not been put on hold because of sewer problems and the store will open on schedule.

Business hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. everyday.