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]

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...