Could an end to the Trader Joe's saga be near?
A few weeks ago the TU's Chris Churchill pointed out some signs that could indicate a Trader's Joe's was planned for a spot on Wolf Road (map). Today, the Biz Review's Michael DeMasi reports the company has been scouting the area -- but even after hitting up the contractors working onsite, there's nothing confirmed or official.
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Comments
Please, Santa, bring the Capital Region a Trader Joe's. Mostly because I can't take any more of the endless speculation.
And, while you're at it, bring a Wegman's, too. Because there's that whole thing.
... said WendyV on Dec 21, 2011 at 11:51 AM | link
The only odd thing is it looks like the construction workers are putting up walls inside the old Office Max... like splitting it (back?) into two separate storefronts.
This was recently done to the old Borders down the street. It's probably a lot easier for them to rent out two or three smaller retail/office spaces than one giant one.
... said Paul on Dec 21, 2011 at 12:08 PM | link
What Wendy V. said. It will be wonderous if/when it happens and if it doesn't I will still drive to Noho every few months for my TJ's and hang around Noho days. But please let's stop talking about it. And hanging signs on statues about it. And sending them emails about it. Albany is becoming the obsessive ex-girlfriend and Joe won't want to come anywhere near us if we keep acting all crazy-like.
... said Nicole on Dec 21, 2011 at 12:08 PM | link
I didn't really complete my thought in the last comment. Having never been to a Trader Joes, I may be wrong about this, but wouldn't the Office Max building cut in half be too small?
... said Paul on Dec 21, 2011 at 12:10 PM | link
Paul, I;ve only been in two Trader Joe's, but I think a half-sized Office Max would be about right for one of their stores.
Also, I would LOVE this if it actually happened!
... said Jessica R on Dec 21, 2011 at 12:41 PM | link
Dear god let it end! Let them build it so we can all start talking about the Wegmans they are DEFINITELY building on Central ave. No, on Wolf road. Or Broadway...
... said Bill on Dec 21, 2011 at 12:49 PM | link
Since Rochester is getting a TJs I can' think Albany would be far behind!
... said Mary aka The Culinary Librarian on Dec 21, 2011 at 12:50 PM | link
Cutting one Trader Joe's into two pieces could potentially be my dream come true. It could indicate a separate but connected entity to sell their wines and spirits. But that's such wild speculation it seems almost irresponsible.
Forget I even mentioned it. I firmly believe Trader Joe's coming to the area is inevitable. So I've decided to stop thinking about it until they finally open their doors.
Damn you for making me think about it again.
[Now back to ignoring it.]
... said Daniel B. on Dec 21, 2011 at 1:15 PM | link
Who cares about TJ or Wegmans? I want an Ikea!
... said jb on Dec 21, 2011 at 1:16 PM | link
This is what we've been working towards for the part four years. Things are looking very positive. Our community deserves a Trader Joe's as much as it deserves the effort we have put into this campaign!
Bruce Roter, President
We Want Trader Joe's in the Capital District
www.wwtj.org
... said Bruce Roter on Dec 21, 2011 at 1:18 PM | link
Been in Buffalo this summer and fall.. Visited different Wegmans stores on multiple occasions.
I really cannot understand what all this fuss about Wegmans is about... The stores are no different from Hannaford.
... said Lu on Dec 21, 2011 at 2:04 PM | link
About the size/wine store-- TJs usually has their grocery store and wine stores close together so it would be two places but could be in the same strip mall.
In regards to the wonderment of Wegman's it is the high quality of their store brand (generic) items in addition to availability of ingredients and customer service.
... said Mary aka The culinary Librarian on Dec 21, 2011 at 2:29 PM | link
I was at the Hadley store last Friday - my first trip there. One of the workers swore up and down that Albany was getting a store in the very near future. I thought she might be yanking my chain, but maybe not.
... said Gretchen on Dec 21, 2011 at 2:36 PM | link
Daniel B's guess is an interesting one, I've always wondered why the "no wine in grocery stores" rule would stop Trader Joe's from operating essentially the same as BJ's in Colonie does -- separate entrance and register (and no membership needed, BTW!) for alcohol sales.
... said B on Dec 21, 2011 at 2:41 PM | link
All the world's problems will be solved, peace will reign, Jesus will come down with the angels and dance among us. Lions will lay down with lambs. Classism, racism, sexism will cease to exist. We will all be brothers and sisters. All hail the coming of Trader Joe's, the thing we all care about most in the world.
... said Eric on Dec 21, 2011 at 3:17 PM | link
Eric: The opening of another outpost for packaged, processed food in the suburbs truly will be the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.
... said Miss Blankenship on Dec 21, 2011 at 4:34 PM | link
Eric,
You have it about right. But you forgot the part where I also win the lottery and an all-expenses paid trip to..Trader Joe's! Ah, that's better.
... said Bruce Roter on Dec 21, 2011 at 4:42 PM | link
Could someone explain to me what exactly the big deal is with Trader Joe's? I mean in detail, explain to me what I can get there that I can't get at Walmart, Job Lot or any liquor store.
Or is this just a scene? And since it's now coming to Albany, it's apparent this scene is over.
... said Save Pine Hills on Dec 21, 2011 at 5:09 PM | link
Miss Blankenship: Let the sunshine in indeed.
Here's an interesting tidbit, though admittedly a not very thorough or scientific analysis: A search on Google of AllOverAlbany shows 1,160 results for the phrase "Trader Joes." Also according to Google's cache of the site, that's almost 800 more times than "Jerry Jennings" has been discussed (and over nine hundred more times than outgoing Troy Mayor "Harry Tutunjian"), almost twice the times that the City of Cohoes has been mentioned, and almost ten times the number of post appearances by the "Arts Center of the Capital Region." That easily beats out the number of times that you talked about generic ideas like "traffic," or "snow," or "pride."
To be fair, "Price Chopper" returns a whopping 1,580 results (ten more than the word "police" has appeared), and Hannaford gets slightly less love with 1,340. And perhaps getting a Trader Joe's wouldn't completely whet the whistle: a search for Wegman's gets thirty more hits at 1,190.
You guys love the heck out of talking about grocery stores in these parts, is all I'm saying. Especially ones that don't exist.
... said Eric on Dec 21, 2011 at 5:53 PM | link
Dear Save Pine Hills,
Let me try to explain why I initially started this. Trader Joe's is a grocery store that I got to know well while living on the West Coast, but after I moved back, I noticed its expansion on the East Coast (many downstate), but none up here. I always considered it a great, funky sort of store where you could buy great items you can't find elsewhere at amazingly reasonable prices. Unlike what we're bombarded with on a daily basis, Trader Joe's does not do much marketing (they rely on customer satisfaction and word of mouth) which also helps keep their prices low. As for the products themselves, there's a lot of care in creating health-conscious products (some which cater to specific dietary needs). But there's also a great assortment of sweet stuff as well (various imported tortes, pies, candies, etc.). What I really enjoyed was the convenience items that you could just put in the oven and have a fantastic, wholesome meal. Yes, you'll have to get used to the "crew" wearing Hawaiian shirts, but it's all part of the fun. In essence, Trader Joe's is the kind of place where you think you're going to buy just one thing, but come out with ten things you never thought you would try before -- and you wind up loving most of them. Bon apetit!
Bruce Roter
... said Bruce Roter on Dec 21, 2011 at 5:58 PM | link
If we don't have it in South Fl, Albany's dang sure farther down th list
... said Chad on Dec 21, 2011 at 9:40 PM | link
@ B: As a former employee of a local wine store that shall remain unnamed (and which I don't speak for), it was our understanding that BJ's was able to have a wine/liquor store there because of the "separate" location and the fact that it was the only one that BJ's operated in NYS. There had been some talk of them moving that liquor operation downstate, legally transferring the license from one location to another. This was necessary because in NYS a person that owns any part of one liquor store cannot legally own any of another by State Liquor Authority regulation. - thus, the corporate parent of BJs could not have an interest in more than one location, even if it was a subsidiary company that actually "owned" the store.
Thus, if Trader Joe's does operate a wine/liquor section in the supposed Colonie store, it could be the only store in New York State in which it did so. Which it might do, but it's not as easy as taking it for granted.
... said Alex on Dec 22, 2011 at 6:30 AM | link
Thanks for the info, Alex.
... said B on Dec 22, 2011 at 9:21 AM | link
@ Save Pine Hills: What my family likes about Trader Joe's are the following items (all of which, for one reason or another (price, quality/taste, uniqueness) are significantly different from what you'll find in traditional grocery stores in these parts):
the fresh salsa
guacamole
granola cereal with almonds (box)
Hansen's soda (both the pomegranate and the mandarin-lime flavors)
maple and brown sugar instant oatmeal
frozen french grean beans
frozen "bird nests"
frozen mixed vegetable (a few varieties)
frozen dumplins
crumpets
raw sugar
cinnamon pita chips
jar salsa
Panda Puffs cereal
almonds
frozen biryani curried rice
It's a great food store.
For the record, I find people's strong distaste of other's people's enthusiasm for Trader Joe's to be comical (and a bit sad).
... said grandmastergus on Dec 22, 2011 at 6:28 PM | link
For the first time in 31 years I had to return something to Wegmans (a bag of local organic apples nicely priced at $3.99 for 5 lbs!). The woman at customer service commented that she was so sorry and didn't know how it could happen that they missed two of the apples in the bag that were spoiled. She was genuinely sorry and wasn't spewing sarcasm when she said that she didn't know how it could be missed by them. I was all, "No problem. It happens."
THAT has never, ever happened to me here in the capital district. I've returned food more times than I can count to Price Chopper and Hannaford. Sorry, but Hannaford is no Wegmans. Plus, you can't get a free sample cup of coffee (for me), free cookie, or balloon for the kids at Hannaford ;)
... said FISH on Dec 22, 2011 at 10:52 PM | link
I have been in Trader Joe's in Cambridge mass (there is a wine section in the store) ; Newton mass (no wine) and Framingham mass (wine section). my understanding is the two store limit for wine was reached which is why the newton store has no "two buck chuck" which is now three bucks by the way. So maybe or maybe not with a store here with wine.
If it comes here I'll shop there - but like grandmastergus says - for CERTAIN ITEMS - not everything - especially since I can WALK to Price Chopper.
... said leslie on Dec 26, 2011 at 2:30 PM | link
Alex wrote: "Thus, if Trader Joe's does operate a wine/liquor section in the supposed Colonie store, it could be the only store in New York State in which it did so. Which it might do, but it's not as easy as taking it for granted."
However, Trader Joe's already operates a wine store in New York State; specifically, in Union Square in NYC. And, as you noted, the law only allows them to own one such location.
... said Tim in Waterford on Jan 3, 2012 at 5:29 PM | link
Let me state this: I'm not a fan of Trader Joe's. BUT, I do support the fact that one is coming into this area. Anyone who is hating TJ's coming here must be a Price-Chopper monopolist. We need a variety in the capital district. The end of Price Chopper must be soon and must be quick.
Anyone else notice or seen more Price Chopper commercials on TV than ever before? 1st it was Fresh Market, then it was ShopRite. Hopefully, TJ's will put an end of the Golub Monopoly.
Bring on Wegman's and Whole Foods. Down with Price Chopper and your ghetto supermarkets
... said James on Jan 3, 2012 at 8:45 PM | link