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A call for a Trader Joe’s in the East End

Stephanie has kicked off a grassroots effort on the Church Hill Parents FB to get a Trader Joe’s to come somewhere closer:

Hi all! I know some of you are huge fans of Trader Joes like me & hate trekking about 25 mins to shop there.

When I was there today, an employee told me of additional Trader Joe’s stores that opened in places like New Jersey when tons of people flooded their customer service new location request online.

How amazing would it be to have one in Church Hill or downtown??!! Here’s the link to specifically voice the request. Please join me in this effort!
http://www.traderjoes.com/contact-us/location-request

PREVIOUSLY:

252 comments

Stephen Popovich 11/02/2015 at 9:38 PM

Done.

I love Trader Joe’s, I never go there because it is a half hour from my house at 611 N. 37th St., Richmond, VA 23223. I love the vegetables, cheese, the nuts, the dried apples, The wine and the beer. I also like buying the flowers, the bananas, the meats, and I love the samples a lot, and the coffee, and I love that all the staff is really really awesome. It is just too far from my house.

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Lee 11/02/2015 at 10:04 PM

I think Trader Joes is great for frozen foods, meal kits, and the like, but my experience has been that TJs offerings are more expensive or simply less practical for cooking meals from scratch. Is this still the case? Thoughts, anyone?

Also, I think some of the perceived quality is more about marketing. (I always think of an incident where a housemate from Alaska went shopping with me and was disgusted by “the salmon that you throw back or feed your dog”). Not trying to trash talk – they’ve got some good stuff, and please feel free to set me straight (politely) if you disagree. But in terms of a basic grocery I’d rather see a slightly nicer Chimbo mart or something like food lion.(I also admit to a strong and probably irrational local/small business bias)

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Cadeho 11/02/2015 at 10:58 PM

I have never been to a Trader Joe’s but Short Pump should not have everything! It is too far and we need a lot of businesses in the East End. People think we won’t support businesses because we’re not over crowded or snobby rich like the West End, but we do have economic power. Too many locations in the East End to suggest. Why don’t we have more commercial along Williamsburg AVENUE and in the Rocketts Landing area? Look at all that land! That could be shopping mecca for us between Nicholson, Williamsburg, Goddin, and Main Street. The industrial stuff could be rezoned. There should be something here! Both Richmond and Henrico could benefit.

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Cadeho 11/02/2015 at 11:00 PM

I also wish more businesses had a page like that.

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Melissa 11/03/2015 at 12:23 AM

Absolutely & submitted. A nicer grocery store would be great too. Wish there was a Kroger in CH or Fulton or even in White Oak. The one on Laburnum is NASTY.

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Trish 11/03/2015 at 5:07 AM

@Lee–while I don’t hate it I’ve never understood why people go so nuts over Trader Joe’s. As you point out, it’s great for prepared foods, but for regular groceries not so much. The question I have is: what, if anything, is going on with the Sauer Center at West Broad and Hermitage? There was a big fuss made in May of last year over Whole Foods signing a lease there but it doesn’t look like anything’s being done as far as construction goes.

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Michael Hild 11/03/2015 at 6:15 AM

Great idea. Form submitted!

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Kevin 11/03/2015 at 7:30 AM

Excellent idea! Submitted!

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Nick 11/03/2015 at 8:28 AM

Yep yep. Submitted.

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neighbor 11/03/2015 at 8:31 AM

@ Rebecca Parker you are right. The Idea of a Trader Joes in Church Hill is absurd. It’s as if we forget that most kids in the neighborhood are on free and reduced lunch because the family is so poor. With all the abandoned buildings, concentration of poor, and three other grocery stores in the east end sometimes you people amaze me. If you want fancy grocery stores move out of the ghetto.

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Karol 11/03/2015 at 8:59 AM

I really do like Trader Joe’s and would love to see one closer to the city than Short Pump. Unfortunately, it’s not the type of grocery store that fulfills all my needs on a regular basis, such as having the ability to buy a single jalapeno pepper (has to be purchased as part of a guacamole kit??), food/litter for my cats and other household items.

On a related topic and not implying at all that this can substitute a TJ’s, has anyone visited the Farm Fresh lately? The smelly fish scents have all but dissipated, they’ve totally upped their game in their produce and organic meat selections and they now have a Growler refill section. WHAT??

I have noticed and appreciate that they have made marked improvements in a better effort to serve the incredibly diverse population that’s in our community. If you’ve sworn off this place, I suggest paying another visit for a quick tour.

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Brett 11/03/2015 at 9:11 AM

The sense of entitlement these days kills me.

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Marneytoe 11/03/2015 at 9:17 AM

Submitted! Let’s get a Total Wine while we’re at it!

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VSK 11/03/2015 at 9:33 AM

Done. Heck, I’d love to see a TJ anywhere in the city. They would have more of us become regular customers versus those of that are occasional customers that only shop there when forced to be in short pump.

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frank p 11/03/2015 at 9:46 AM

I agree with Karol, Farm Fresh is not that bad IMO. One just has to be selective. I find the people working there pleasant too.

TJ’s is awesome and I’d love one here.

@Neighbor: Have you been to a TJs? They are super inexpensive in comparison to standard grocery stores.

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Queen of Church Hill 11/03/2015 at 9:50 AM

I could be wrong, but I recall a thread about a market owned by the former manager of Joe’s Market (now Libbie Market) being built on the Nine Mile Road corridor. What ever happened to this? Or am I imagining things?

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Queen of Church Hill 11/03/2015 at 9:57 AM

Never mind, I see the link above – Jim’s local market. That’s what I was referring to.

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crd 11/03/2015 at 10:43 AM

@25 re Farm Fresh, agreed they have upped their game. They are even carrying my brand of cat litter (World’s Best) which I had been getting at Kroger.

I would love to see a TJs somewhere in the city, too, but am dubious about them choosing the east end. Did fill out the form, we’ll see where this goes.

Has anyone here discovered the Aldi store up on Mech. Pike, across from Lee Davis High? I just went last weekend, and it is SUPER cheap. Stripped down, not as much prepared food as TJ but the prices are LOW. Pay a quarter to unlock your cart (or bum a quarter from the checkout clerk); bring your own bags totally, they have none at all. In exchange, save money. Most items helpfully say ‘compare to’ so those new brands are easier to navigate.

Now if we could just get something down in Fulton, and if that store came in at Nine Mile, it would be good – @30 refer to the link at the top of this post about Jim’s Local Market (proposed), you are not imagining things!

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Dean 11/03/2015 at 12:27 PM

An Aldi would be a great choice for the neighborhood, it would definitely be more fitting and service the overall need of the community. Seriously, try the one off mechanicsville trpk or Broad!

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Wonkyeye 11/03/2015 at 12:50 PM

Also, if we all start supporting Chimborazo market, which is locally-owned, has its own butcher (and sells cuts like oxtails), and will adjust merchandise based on customers, we may be able to make it into the market we desire. They have started carrying more produce, they have some organic cereals and semi-decent wines as well as beers. Trader Joe’s is good and I did send in my request, but I’d love to see more of my neighbors supporting the wonderful people at Chimborazo Mart, rather than trying to force them out to substitute a national chain. Their main customers are people on food stamps, looking for reasonably-priced protein.

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garry 11/03/2015 at 1:09 PM

I like our Farm Fresh and Chimbo is cool. Both have stood the test of time, offering food for sale since back when many people wouldn’t even think of driving through our neighborhoods let alone consider living here. They just remodeled the Farm Fresh. Sure it would be cool to have a Trader Joe’s or Fresh market or Whole Foods in our area, but not at the experience of the markets that have stood with us for many years. If i need a food staple I walk to the Chimbo or hit the Farm Fresh. I have also found the people, both employees and shoppers, at both to be most pleasant. Long live the two markets that have stuck it out.

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Clay Street 11/03/2015 at 1:51 PM

I haven’t been inside The Market/Farm Fresh for quite some time, I have to admit I gave up on it after shopping there for over a decade and continuing to get more and more frustrated. But I will stop by and check it out.

p.s. I miss Ukrop’s!!!

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Ziti 11/03/2015 at 3:16 PM

@17

Trish, I’ve been wondering about the Whole Foods at Sauers, too. I think nothing’s going to happen there until Pleasant’s relocates to the old Motley’s site, which I guess hasn’t happened yet?

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crd 11/03/2015 at 5:58 PM

@40 Ziti, that’s correct. I think I read that Pleasant’s is not just renovating but building new at the new site, which added time to the move in date.

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Kathleen Sanders 11/03/2015 at 6:42 PM

I agree that Farm Fresh has made an effort and become much better in the last few months. I’ve been in there twice recently and both times, work was being done and an employee asked if I needed help finding anything. I also noticed the new growler station. ??
As for Chimbo Market, I’ve only been in there once, and that was a few years ago. I found it to be the Blue Wheeler on steroids – nastier, dirtier, and it has absolutely nothing I want or need to buy (no ox tails for me, thanks!). However, I would try to support change at the Chimbo Market and buy …. something tbd there, if they are open to change. If not, that’s fine. I’ll just keep driving to Martins. But I’d rather spend my $ in the East End.

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Wonkyeye 11/03/2015 at 10:03 PM

@Kathleen Saunders- it has been renovated extensively in the past year. It’s still not posh, but very friendly and welcoming. Also, no oxtails? You don’t eat pho?

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Ralph Nadar 11/03/2015 at 10:51 PM

All people talking about this shit should move to west end where trader joes exist. Bulldoze the Botchi ball court and build a skatepark for the kids who live in the neighborhood stop thinking about your agenda and start thinking about whats important for everyone else.

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Kathleen Sanders 11/04/2015 at 8:37 AM

@Wonkyeye – Don’t judge (re: pho :). @Ralph Nadar – at #46 posts and counting, obviously this subject is important to a lot of people, if not to you. I’d also support a skate park, jsyk.

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neighbor 11/04/2015 at 9:21 AM

Chimbo market has a lot to offer! the employees are great and they have organic stuff and gluten free pizza too for all of you who don’t want to eat ox tails.

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Liz 11/04/2015 at 9:38 AM

I love Trader Joe’s. That said, I would support an Aldi first. I think Trader Joe’s is a little pricey and heavy on frozen foods. I think an Aldi in the East End would meet the needs of a varied population. I haven’t yet been to the Chimbo market but after reading on here, I will definitely check it out!!

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Matt Conrad 11/04/2015 at 1:38 PM

Done. Bring on the $12 double stem orchids immeds.

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Michael T. 11/04/2015 at 7:03 PM

Would love LOVE to see Trader Joes in the neighborhood. I think they would be great for the community. Their prices are very similar to Kroger. Farm Fresh prices are alot higher, even pushing a $1 on some items. And yes you can find all the items, and pronounce all the ingredients, you need to cook a very healthy very satisfying full meal. “Something like Food Lion” Really? Still waiting on that ice cream shop…

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Steven H 11/06/2015 at 1:28 PM

Wow. So many people say they want a supermarket even if it is Kroger, but when Kroger wanted to go in the bottom everyone poopooed the idea because it was in a flood plain. I just can’t get over the two faced aspects of this area.

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crd 11/09/2015 at 7:05 AM

Aldi does have a request a store, but it is a lot more complicated than Trader Joes. You actually have to enter a real street address to get the form to go through . I came up with something at Orleans St. and Wmbg. Ave. Does anyone know of a vacant lot for sale in the general Fulton area that would take a small grocery store like Aldi?

Not sure if this will work but I think this is a link to the request a store thing at Aldi:

https://www.aldi.us/en/contact-us/

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Ziti 12/31/2015 at 3:07 PM Reply

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