Continuing The Discussion on Trader Joe's

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Sometime last week there was brief mention of desire (which I'm sure most of us share) for a Trader Joe's in Davis. Someone here, and I don't remember who, had information on that and said that Trader Joe's rejected Davis as a location because of the lack of parking. I've been thinking about that, and I'm wondering if that person, or anyone, has more information on how the company was approached or how they arrived at their decision.

If it's strictly a parking matter, one need only look at the Boylston Street store to know it can and does succeed with minimal-to-no parking.

Joe's has parking-lotted stores in Cambridge and Arlington. Yet they have not one store in Manhattan. Are they really that afraid of areas with low cars-to-residents ratios? Could it be that when they were asked about a Davis location, they simply didn't know the demographics of this neighborhood and presumed there would be no support or interest? A Davis location would be a goldmine for them, we all know that. But it would appear they don't.

So my questions:

Is there an appropriately sized space for them available? Who owns it?

We know the pros, but would there be any cons to their being here?

And, could an online petition with several thousand signatures from ethusiastic area residents who would be regular customers have enough positive influence to make them think again?

Curious for your thoughts...

Comments

[yangelina.livejournal.com]

I agree with signsoflife's comment. It is possible that TJ didn't reject Davis Square, but the developer jumped the gun and made his/her own conclusion.
I believe that a TJ will benefit folks not just in Davis Square, but possibly many many others north of the river who live near the Redline. It is simply a pain the butt to go all the way to Boylston for TJ, or hop on a bus/drive to other TJ locations (that I know of). TJ in Davis Sq means convenience to people without cars, near the Redline. That's a lot of people, and ought to be a huge incentive to the marketing team of TJ.
I also agree that a paper petition would be more worthwhile, but personally, I'd be happy to sign either (or both!).

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Agreed. Wholeheartedly. Because the only one that's accessible to car-less me is Boylston, unless I feel like walking all the way down River street and back (with groceries!). The fact that Boylston's two trains (red and green) basically means I only go there if I happen to be in the area.

There is no TJs on the redline (Cambridge's is a good hike from Central as I said)...and if there were one, I'm sure people would come from the Harvard, Porter, Davis and Alewife areas.

They have one location in SoMa San Francisco; it has nominal parking, but it shares the lot with a Bed Bath and Beyond and a Toys R Us...so the net effect of available parking was, basically, kind of like they didn't have any...but they did have a bus stop rignt in front.

I also wouldn't mind getting a Super 88 in the area...I'd go there far more often than TJs!

[ursamajor]

I would ADORE a Super 88 in the area, but don't they tend to go for lower-rent neighborhoods than Davis? If they come to the Camberville area, my bet would be more on a location like Union Square or Magoun or maybe Winter Hill.

I'd think the smaller ethnic markets that already dot Union Square would protest Super 88 moving in and undercutting their prices, though. Heh.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Ooh, they could have Johnny Foodmaster. Or the Market Basket!

The Reliable Market is the only Korean market in town. 88 doesn't carry as much Korean stuff, so I think those two can coexist...

And yeah, they are usually lower rent, but Allston makes me wonder...

[ursamajor]

*nods* I know of Reliable, but rarely get down to Union Square. Do you know about J+K over on Mass Ave near Dudley Street? It's maybe half a mile outside the square, in Cambridge, so might be more convenient if you just need something Korean quickly.

You have a point about Allston, though I'd bet the food court there is probably a helpful draw, and brings in enough extra foot traffic to justify it. The other locations are more difficult to get to by the T, though, and none are especially convenient to davis_square residents.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

I haven't been to J+K, but I'm actually closer to Reliable; I live at Hancock and Summer, and it's not a bad walk in summer...when it's been snowing that walk can be a bit treacherous though, because a lot of people seem not to believe in shovelling their walks.

[julishka.livejournal.com]

there's a super 88 in malden now.

[ursamajor]

there is? cool, i'm glad the love is spreading. :)

a pity i stopped dating the guy in malden a year and a half ago. ;)

[overstim.livejournal.com]

Super 88 doesnt look for low rent neighborhoos, they look for predominantly Asian neighborhood. You just sais Asians are poor. Thats racist. :P

[hotpoint.livejournal.com]

No, she was saying that Super 88 would not want to pay as much per square foot of retail space as a Davis landlord would likely charge. That is the definition of "low rent", is it not?

[overstim.livejournal.com]

wow... just, wow...

[ursamajor]

Thank you, yes, that's exactly what I was saying. Sorry I didn't put it more succinctly! *g*

[yangelina.livejournal.com]

FWIW, I didn't draw overstim's conclusion from your comment, nor find if racists/offensive. I'm Asian. And from what I know off Super 88s in the area, yes, you are correct, they do go toward low rent neighborhoods.
Also, it would be FANTASTIC, if we get a Super 88 in Davis. I would be so happy, I'd throw a dance party. Seriously.

[ursamajor]

Oh, good, I'm relieved. I certainly didn't mean for it to sound the way (s)he interpreted it.

(And I'm half-Asian, too (Filipino); had said discussion re "Why doesn't Camberville have a Super 88?" with my Korean boyfriend, and until I discovered Super 88, was pretty much resigned to my mom having to send me Mama Sita packets across the country. Oh, man, a Super 88 in Davis would rock!)

*starts wondering about a petition for a Super 88, now ;) *

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

My boyfriend's Korean, and I didn't find it offensive, either. (I'm Asian if being descended from Russians counts)...
He lives in Southie, so when I get get him to go shopping, we go to the big one in Dorchester - he has a car.

We go to the Reliable Market a lot...

[ron_newman]

Doesn't Super 88 generally locate in places with a large Chinese or Southeast Asian population? Allston is, Somerville isn't.

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

We've got Japanese, Koreans and Indians, and they're supposedly fairly pan-Asian...

Aw hell, I'm just tired of schlepping groceries from Chinatown :-)

[yangelina.livejournal.com]

Amen. By the time I walk from Chinatown to Park St with arm full/ backpack full of groceries, I'm wondering maybe I should've just be lazy and hop on the Green Line at Boylston. Plus I can never say, "I'm going to stop by Super 88 quickly and pick up some soy sauce in the big gallon jugs." A trip in and back takes at least an hour, and that's just super inconvenient. I totally hear you on this one.

[ursamajor]

*nod* exactly. And yeah, Kotobukiya has some stuff, Yoshinoya in Central has some stuff, J+K on Mass Ave has some stuff. But they're smaller stores, they tend to specialize along one ethnic line or another, and while I'm all for giving local independents my business, sometimes the superstores are what's needed.

(until you try to figure out where on earth you can store a 25 lb bag of rice. hee.)

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Kotobukiya = $$$ though! That part I'm not so crazy about...I need to check out J + K. There's also the Lotte Market between Kendall and Central on Mass Ave, but I've seen some moldy produce here.

Reliable is my main one, which is handy since my boyfriend's Korean...but sometimes I want some Chinese or Vietnamese stuff they don't have!

Oh. And Shalimar in Central Square for Indian groceries!

[ursamajor]

Oh! And Foodland at Mass Ave and Day St is a Pakistani/Indian grocery place.

But I still want a Super 88. ;)

[talonvaki.livejournal.com]

Same here. Oh, and try buying those good frozen potstickers in the middle of July and walking home with them!

Sometimes I go to the CMart (in the parking garage) near South Station; it's an easier walk. It's not as bad as it used to be since they remodeled it...it's no Super 88, but it's okay.

Kind of like going to Walgreen's when you are used to CVS...