Wouldn’t the soon-to-be-vacated World Market space just be perfect for a Trader Joe’s? There aren’t many retailers that need a space that big. And there’s plenty of parking …
Is winter ever going to end?
Took Peanut to the women’s basketball game last night and she loved it, especially when the little kids who had participated in a cheerleading clinic took the floor at halftime to perform their routines. There’s just one home game left, next Sunday at 3 p.m.
Remember the list by Forbes.com about the nation’s smartest cities and all the love for Iowa City? Well, the Columbia Journalism Review takes Forbes to task in this article for its use of Census Department data. Pretty funny.
17 responses so far ↓
Trueself // February 25, 2008 at 1:02 pm
OMG Yes! I miss TJs so much. Every time I visit Chicago or St. Louis I go and stock up, but it would be great to have one closer.
Kirstin // February 25, 2008 at 4:18 pm
FWIW, I’ve learned from a friend who worked in the corporate Whole Foods office that 1) Trader Joe’s won’t go into a market where there isn’t already a Whole Foods–that basically TJ’s lets Whole Foods do all the market research, and that 2) they won’t go anywhere where they can’t (profit-wise) put more than one store. I doubt CU could support two TJs, let alone 2 TJs and Whole Foods. I have not verified this info (by checking whether there are WFs in every location with TJs etc) so she could be far off the mark. I’d love for her to be wrong!
Mark J. // February 25, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Don’t know about the two TJs to an area. Their store locator shows lots of areas where there is only one. But the WF link makes sense. Although sometimes it’s a Wild Oats instead. Indy has two TJs and one WO right in the middle between them.
We’d love to see a TJ here. I’m doubting it will happen, though. I heard today that the woman who formerly owned Miko’s and now owns KO Fusion has bought the old JBL building and will be opening an organic food store. After my colleague told me this, I thought that I’d heard it somewhere else before. Maybe here on LBOTP?
lbotp // February 25, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Posting for Beth:
A fellow reader suggested that Trader Joe’s only goes where Whole Foods is and only goes where they can open up 2 stores. I wanted to assure you that this information is likely incorrect. I’m originally from Dayton, Ohio where we only have only one Trader Joe’s and no Whole Foods. I can’t imagine Dayton would get an additional TJ’s or a Whole Foods anytime in the near future.
Just wanted to offer a little hope!
lbotp // February 25, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Mark — I mentioned this in October after the N-G had a big spread on it. Here’s the link: http://lbotp.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/edition-xxxxxxi-of-random-thoughts/
One of the great things about Trader Joes is the value — it prides itself on finding new products and marketing them under its own brand, at a reasonable price. It’s hard to believe that this store could accomplish the same thing.
Mate'man // February 25, 2008 at 9:01 pm
Perhaps the single-store towns are provisioned by trucks running some particular maximum distance from their distribution centers. Or servicing more than one store on a run. Or just darn lucky!
Mark J. // February 25, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Thanks, lbotp.
I knew I’d heard it before, and since you’re more clued in to what’s going on in C-U than anyone I know, I figured it had to be here.
peggyluwho // February 25, 2008 at 11:58 pm
I live in a TJ dense area, which also has it’s share of Whole Foods. I much prefer the TJs, personally. It’s the only place where I’ve ever had fun shopping for groceries. I would like to see some sort of conclusive data on the connection, as I would like it to be untrue; I am completely biased. I also wonder if the TJs near a Whole Paycheck draw business away from them?
Don // February 26, 2008 at 11:34 am
I sit in the same general section of the lecture hall in Noyes Lab ( MCB 103 lecture) as Lori Bjork.
lbotp // February 26, 2008 at 11:37 am
Don — you should get notes from her. She is a smart cookie.
khanada // February 26, 2008 at 1:08 pm
On a totally tangential point, I find the World Market space to be rather small with narrow little aisles and too much stuff crammed in. It gives me an anxiety attack. Don’t stores like Whole Foods & Trader Joes like a more spacious layout?
And yes, my point is probably moot.
Lisa B-K // February 27, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I’m not holding my breath for a Trader Joe’s, if for no other reason than the current economic situation.
I think if we see it, it’ll be a few years.
Rayne of Terror // February 28, 2008 at 9:31 am
I went to TJ for the first time this week and didn’t see the big deal. What is the mystique?
Leeanthro // February 28, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Rayne- We want what we don’t have.
Actually, the prices are better and the food good quality.
Lisa // February 28, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Yes, it would be the perfect space, and yes, why don’t they come already??!!
Rayne of Terror // February 29, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Probably because I was at the TJ on the Mag Mile in Chicago, but I was like “How much for an apple?!?” They were not cheap and they looked old wrinkly and bruised.
lbotp // February 29, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Why I love Trader Joe’s: Their frozen section is amazing.
Their prepared food is usually yummy.
Their nuts/dried fruits section — great value.
They have products there cheaper than at many other stores (like Fiji water and Orangina)
They have great pasta sauces, fruit juice, canned fruit, etc.
The prices.
OK, I’ll stop now.
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