Trader Joe's

[from Julie Christenberry]

Does anyone know if there are plans for a Trader Joe's in the Petworth/Columbia Heights area?  I thought I had read about it at some point but was not sure.

Comments

[Petra]

I personally think Trader Joe's would be awesome in the Columbia Heights area - I get most of my basics from there, with occasional extraordinary items. Whole Foods tends to be too expensive. The larger Trader Joe's have petfood, breakfast food etc.

[Petworth Paul]

Trader Joe's is currently negotiating to take space at Union Row (the PN Hoffman project at 14th and V NW). The developer there is very very eager to do a deal w/ them so I think it will likely happen. The one thing I have heard is that the folks at TJ's are obsessive about parking -- note that the new TJ's in Foggy Bottom has 60 designated spaces (though it seems that most people walk/bike/metro to that store). The U Street store will be able to offer something close to that (I think they have 50 spaces).

[Joe Martin]

The sheer volume of crosstown traffic on Michigan/Irving and north-south traffic on N. Capitol make a good case for our arguing for businesses there that will provide services we need in the neighborhoods. Good point, Reyn.

[Reyn]

oops, should have checked for errors before posting. A broader section of the CITY, of course. :)

[Reyn]

RE: Trader Joe's, seems to there's lots of lower profile spaces in this area that they could move into that would work in their real estate model.

RE: Whole Foods, just want to remind everyone that there are two HUGE properties slated for development close to us, both along North Capitol: the McMillan Filtration Field (think funky silos) and the south east corner of the Old Soldiers' Home. I think Petworth residents need to start thinking about what they'd like to see on those sites, as they will have an impact on our neighborhood. Doesn't it seem logical for Whole Foods to locate on a site along North Capitol, which would provide eas(ier) access to a broader section of the sitting, including Northeast, than just Columbia Heights. Campaign, anyone?

[Toby]

I love Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Balducii's and other gourmet/natural-type food stores. But they aren't grocery stores. I'll go to one of them and still have to go to Safeway or Giant or another grocery store. I still need petfood, breakfast cereal, plastic bags and other things I just don't want to spend more for at a gourmet store.

[DC1974]

I think the idea with Whole Foods is that a grocery store should be within walking distance. And also that the P street location is completely overflowing with people.

As for Trader Joe's, having worked there, I can say that they tend to pursue real estate deals that are extremely beneficial to them. Underutilized spaces are a big favorite. As are areas that come with revitalization incentives or are located within industrial areas that border residential. They like places that are not high profile, but that other retailers have pulled out of or decided are not large enough.

They also cary no credit and pay for everything with cash. That's how they keep prices low. So I don't see DCUSA as being an ideal location for Trader Joe's. I could be wrong, obvs. But it's not typical of how they operate. (Too high profile, too high traffic.)

[Chris]

Harris Teeter is suppposedly opening up in Adams Morgan, though that ran into all sorts of traffic- and parking-related complaints in the neighborhood (EVERYTHING in Adams Morgan runs into traffic- and parking-related complaints). Point is, I'm not sure it would make sense for Harris Teeter to pursue another location so close to Adams Morgan, unless, of course, they weren't able to ultimately address any neighborhood barriers.

With regards to the Whole Foods in Columbia Heights, I'm still mystified as to why -- with the P Street location being so close -- they didn't pursue something like Trader Joe's to begin with. In my humble opinion, that campaign seems to be more about image and less about a real need. With this in mind, it would be just awesome for Petworth to get a Trader Joe's and Columbia Heights ending up without the Whole Foods OR a Trader Joe's! :)

[Susan]

I saw comments that if the campaign to get Whole Foods into the DC USA shopping center doesn't work, that people thought maybe Trader Joe's could be recruited. But I don't think that was anything more than an offhand suggestion. But as for Petworth...I really hope that at the very least the Safeway could be renovated. I heard the Safeway in Dupont Circle was redone - I don't know if it's much better. But I recently was at the renovated Giant in Van Ness, and that was very nice.

[mjbrox]

I wish we would just get a well run store.

Harris Tetter would be great also.

I think whole foods is to expensive and trader joes is to random

[AJS]

I don't think that will happen. Trader Joe's tends to locate in already very well-established and prosperous areas like Old Town, Bethesda, etc.