Trader Joe's Fresh Pond will open Friday November 13th

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

My Cambridge city councillor, Craig Kelley, mailed this around:

I’m not sure why they picked the date, but on Friday, 13 November the new Trader Joe’s at Fresh Pond (opposite the current Whole Foods, adjacent to CVS on the rotary where Concord Ave heads out towards Belmont) will celebrate its grand opening. They’re not quite sure how elaborate the opening celebration will be, but for those of you who are Trader Joe fans, the store’s simply opening up is probably celebration enough.

Comments

[acidgalore.livejournal.com]

I was wondering when they would open, thanks for posting this! Does anybody know if they are selling beer & wine at this location?

[topsyturvytempo.livejournal.com]

Nope, no wine and beer. Due to some anti-competitive MA law, stores can only have 3 locations within the state that sell alcohol, and TJs already has that. So sad...

[cold-type.livejournal.com]

In 2006, Massachusetts voters defeated a measure that would have let grocery stores sell wine at all their locations. "Opponents blitzed TV and radio airwaves with ads portraying the proposal as a public safety issue. They claimed teenagers would be more likely to obtain alcohol because convenience stores also could apply for wine licenses if the question were approved." Somerville's own police chief was prominently featured in the ads!

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2006/MA/2006-11-07-ballot-initiatives_x.htm

[cowhockey.livejournal.com]

If it was just selling wine and beer in grocery stores, I think it would've passed. The bill included gas stations and mini-marts, which is why I think it failed.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/]

Yeah, the idea that the bill failed just because of public safety concerns is not entirely accurate.

While I'm certain it was a part of the rejection, there was concern that grocery stores selling liquor would put large numbers of independent liquor stores out of business.

I would have otherwise been all for grocery stores selling beer and alcohol.

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

It was just wine, not beer. And stores would only be eligible if they sell "fresh or processed meat, poultry, dairy products, eggs, fresh fruit and produce, baked goods and baking ingredients, canned goods and dessert items". That doesn't sound like a convenience store or gas station to me. And if it encouraged convenience stores to increase their selection of food, I say that's great.

The money behind all those public safety ads was provided by the established liquor stores and distributors.

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

gah!

this floored me when it initially failed, and now it's happening again.

what difference does it make? i guess i was just taken aback because at the time i lived in quincy - across the street from a mini mart that sold both wine and beer. and down the street from the star market. which had a brooks pharmacy next door that sold beer, wine, and liquor. all walking distance from T stops. and we aren't a bunch of out of control drunks.

[gruene.livejournal.com]

I voted against that law.

The grocery stores got greedy. If the new law was just "repeal the limit of 3 stores for the whole state", it would have passed in a heart beat, but instead they kept that law on the books and created an entirely new class of "wine only" liquor licenses just for them. Because that's just what Massachusetts needs, liquor laws that are even more byzantine and complicated! Towns were given very limited ability to regulate these new licenses, which I also disliked. Municipal Freedom gives National Strength, dudes!

[hahathor.livejournal.com]

YAY!!!!

I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[mrcairo.livejournal.com]

Cambridge has 3 Whole Foods, and now two Trader Joe's. Somerville has Market Basket and Johnny Foodmaster.
Why can't we get some of the good markets!

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[808.livejournal.com]

There is one right across the Somerville/Medford line on Mystic Valley. Not very accessible, though, except by car.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/medford/

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[ron_newman]

buses 80 and 94 go pretty near it.

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

Market Basket is my favorite supermarket!

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[syntheticnature.livejournal.com]

You have Dave's Fresh Pasta, too, which I'm pretty fond of. Different kind of market though.

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[joylewis.livejournal.com]

Somerville also has the very new Shaw's and Stop & Shop, both on Rte. 28.

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[ron_newman]

I know about the Stop & Shop but where is this new Shaw's?

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[masswich.livejournal.com]

I think she means the one at Twin City Plaza, not so new anymore, and technically not in Somerville (although much of the mall is)

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[joylewis.livejournal.com]

Yep. It was redone about...3 years ago? It still has that new grocery store scent (which is way better than the foul smell the old Star Market used to have.)

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[tamalinn.livejournal.com]

Are Alewife and Central really that inaccessible for you?

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[mrcairo.livejournal.com]

I can access both areas just fine. it just irks me that I have to go to another town to do the main bits of my shopping, and that by extension, Cambridge is benefitting from any tax income that happens as a result of this.

It makes me wonder what it is about Somerville that TJ's/whole foods find so unappealing.

I admit, the TJs in cambridge are both in very high traffic areas, and make good sense, business wise. I suspect that a TJs over on Broadway, in the old Star Market space would do very well also, not to mention have ample parking.

It's a dichotomy, I admit. I'm happier with Somerville supporting smaller, local businesses, and I think that keeps us interesting and special. On the other side of it, it seems like both TJs and Whole Foods are actively steering themselves around Somerville, which causes me concern.

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[tamalinn.livejournal.com]

There's that empty Star Market in Winter Hill. A TJ's would be too small for the space, and a majority of the residents in that neighborhood wouldn't be able to afford a Whole Foods.

Where would you like to see one of those markets? Where is there room for them?

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[ron_newman]

why do you say it's too small for a TJs? The Arlington Heights TJs is probably smaller than that space.

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[tamalinn.livejournal.com]

That's actually the opposite of what I said. I said TJ's is too small for that space.

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[ron_newman]

Oops, I shouldn't post right after a Halloween dinner....

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[masswich.livejournal.com]

I think the sentiment is a good one, but in Massachusetts local government doesn't get any of the sales tax revenue anyway, only property taxes and hotel taxes. There is the new local meals tax option, but nothing for supermarkets. So feel free to shop in Cambridge if that's what you're worried about.

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

It would be really unpleasant to carry groceries from the respective Whole Foods or Trader Joe's to Alewife or Central, down into the station, up out of your home station, and then to your house. Even with a granny cart it wouldn't be much fun.

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[tamalinn.livejournal.com]

It's not ideal, no, but I do it all the time--even in the winter, and it's not the most horrendous.

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[elements.livejournal.com]

I do it with a granny cart. I actually prefer the TJs in Arlington Heights, though, cos overall it's easier on buses (if you get the newer kneeling ones) than trains plus lots more sidewalk walking. The TJs location at Alewife is going to be a smidge more T-station accessible than the Whole Foods and other plaza across the street, at least.

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[ron_newman]

I took a granny cart on a #77 once (Porter Square Shaw's to Day Street), and neither the bus driver nor the other passengers appreciated it much. It was really crowded and I probably won't try it again.

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

i used to do that when i lived in brighton the first time and it was always AWFUL.

i resorted to using peapod even though the prices and selection were far from ideal.

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[ron_newman]

In particular, why can't we get one of these 'good markets' to move into the closed, vacant Winter Hill Star Market?

Re: I'm getting pretty tired of this...

[masswich.livejournal.com]

I think the problem is simply the "buying power" in a circle around that location isn't high enough, and the demographics don't check out, for a "good market". Maybe in 20 years.