I guess East Nashville is willing to travel...

A few months back, I started a second petition to encourage TJ's to choose East Nashville for their next location. I officially abandon that project. For one, only a little over 300 folks signed it; pretty far from a mandate. Second, there is the Turnip Truck...

Last night I went to the Turnip Truck (hereafter, the TT). My visits are definitely less frequent since TJs came to town. As I walked the aisles, I recollected the day that Ian and I visited the TT for the first time. It was on a visit from Chicago in 2002 after we made an offer on our house. We were very excited the TT was there, but we were shocked by the prices. I find that feeling returning. One of the items (frozen chicken nuggets--I can't remember the brand) that I explicitly went to get last night--and ended up not buying--had gone up in price at least 60 cents to $7.59! I already thought they were expensive before, but they are so yummy, the splurge seemed worth it in the past.

So I walked out with four items: muesli for Ian, baby cereal for Reed (she'll be starting on solids this weekend), bacon, and salsa. If I wanted to, I think I could find good/passable substitutes for all of these items somewhere else easily. The store was pretty empty, although Friday nights are not a big grocery shopping time. I left wondering how business has been for them since TJs opened. I almost always run into someone I know from East Nashville when I'm at TJ's.

I have definitely never been able to afford to buy much at the TT in the past. I don't know how much the TT relies on a bunch of folks like me buying a handful of items every week or so. I thought I would continue to buy that handful, but I realize that I am going to have to be intentional about it in the future. I'm certain the TT would be impacted even more if TJs was in the neighborhood.

So, to those who expressed concern to me about the Turnip Truck's welfare, I now agree. I hope they survive these economic times and the competition that TJs represents. I will do my best to give them my business, as our budget allows.

My visits to Trader Joe's

I guess it is somewhat remarkable that I haven't posted since I have gone to the new store. Perhaps, family and work have kept me a bit too busy (and, embarrassingly, wasting time on Facebook just seems like a preferable way to spend small chunks of free time).

I love the new store! We went on opening weekend and had to park far away and hike. I have gone about 8 times since then (I'd definitely go more often if they were near, but you've heard that before). My favorite time to go is at what I call the "Heathen Hours" in the morning on Sunday [which, by the way is also the best time to go to the Nashville Zoo--too bad they are not closer to one another]. The only problem with going then is that you can't buy beer before noon (stupid blue laws--what a crock).

I was disappointed to learn that Prelude to a Quiche had been discontinued, but a lot of old favorites are still there. A few of those include frozen Chicken Shu Mai (I LOVE these), frozen Chicken Quesadilla (YUM), Cilantro & Chive Yogurt Dip, Tangerine Lime Diet Hansen's, more reasonably priced and volumetrically superior Grade A 100% maple syrup, Cleanliness is Next to Godliness laundry and dishwashing detergent, really cheap frozen (cheese, chicken and beef) enchiladas, and their basic Macaroni and Cheese (my son is thrilled about this last one--so much better than Annie's).

Some new (to me, not necessarily new to TJ's) ones include Orange Flavored Cranberries (these are like crack--seriously addictive), Nuts about Chocolate and Raspberries, Three Layer Hummus (regular, pepper and cilantro), Curry Chicken Breast Tenders (some complain that these are salty but I dig 'em), Curry Naan, Just The Clusters Vanilla Almond Granola (really good companion with the morning coffee), Mini Peanut Butter Cups, and Chocolate Covered Cranberries.

I am still bowled over by TJ's prices after being away from it for so long. It is so nice to get so much yummy food for such reasonable cost. The value definitely makes it worth the drive for our family. Which leads to my next post...

Possible October opening?

That's pure conjecture on my part, so don't get too excited. Somewhere in my past reading, I read that Trader Joe's starts advertising jobs only very shortly before opening, like 3 to 4 weeks. Unfortunately, I can't find that piece now online to reference it.

Well, as of September 19, Trader Joe's is advertising Nashville jobs.

Given the clandestine approach [see Meg's comment] TJs tends to have towards their openings, I figure Thanksgiving is actually a little bit late. It'd be great to visit our new store for our Halloween treats this year!

Sorry I haven't been around to post more often. My brand new baby has been keeping me busy...

The Philippines?

How cool is it that someone in the Philippines is Google-ing "trader joe's nashville"? We've gotten lots of visitors from all over Europe and the US, but I just think that is neat-o.

New Trader Joe's Nashville "Community"

Well, I have continued to google "trader joe's nashville" just to see what pops up. I'm always curious about coverage because the statcounter to my blog shows interesting geographic patterns sometimes. (And, hey Whole Foods Corporate and TJ Corporate, don't think I haven't noticed you. You're welcome here anytime.)

The other day I did my search and did a double-take. What is this Trader Joe's Nashville link I see?

Well, it turns out an individual we'll call "Joe Nashville" (simply because that's all I know) decided to create a community for those who love Trader Joe's in Nashville.

Of course, I joined.

Here is a description for the social network:

"A community of Trader Joe's fans in and around Nashville, TN. Come share, discover and discuss the wonderful things that make shopping at Trader Joe's neighborhood grocery an adventure rather than a chore. "

It's a pretty small group so far and also a bit quiet. Won't you join and liven it up?

P.S. While the CURRENT url is http://traderjoesnashville.ning.com/, Joe wants me to pass on that he hopes to spend the bucks to get that "ning" removed at which point you would need to look for http://traderjoesnashville.com/ (but not yet!)

Trader Joe's in Chattanooga? -update/correction

Shortly after the announcement that Nashville was getting a Trader Joe's, I got an email from a friendly, yet envious, fellow named Jay Craven in Chattanooga lamenting the "grocery store desert" in which he lives. I suggested he start a petition.

Well, someone named Jason Kelley did and got more than 1000 signatures in a week! It's at 1447 as of this post. I signed just a few hours ago (my folks are from there) and I was number 1362.

I think his petition will have to end up being one of the top 25 petitions for petitiononline.com tomorrow because it is climbing really freakin fast.

Keep up the good work, Jason!

(My original post credited Jay with starting the petition, but he just contacted me about it).

Bring Trader Joe's to EAST Nashville!

OK, folks. The new EAST Nashville petition is up with a space for your zip and a space for comments.

You know what to do.

WE DID IT!

Trader Joe's will be opening in the former Wild Oats property in Green Hills. It's not East Nashville, but it ain't a drive to Atlanta, either. I predict East Nashville will have one approximately 2 years after the first one opens. 5th & Main developers are in the process of "wooing" them right now.

Update:
(Sorry the post disappeared for a while. I started editing it this morning and then had some internet problems — it seems that AT&T DSL and rain do not mix in our neighborhood).

My apologies for originally posting this with no attribution/sources. I got the call from Dana Kopp Franklin at the Tennessean (thank you for all your help in getting the word out Dana) yesterday when I was in my car running from one meeting to another. I took the time to stop and post the specifics but not the source.

Similarly, I left my husband a quick voicemail that included the info but not the source and in our subsequent phone tag exchanges he said, "I hope no one's playing an April Fool's joke on you." Man, that would suck.

Anyway, here are a few news items (some of the comments are fun):

On Wednesday
Nashville Business Journal: Trader Joe’s Coming to Green Hills

Tennessean: Trader Joe’s to open in Green Hills

Today
Tennessean: Green Hills Pulls in Trader Joe’s

City Paper: Trader Joe’s lands in Green Hills

And then there are some excited blog and board entries:
Chowhound

AthensSouth

Southern Beale

What has been fascinating about all this is the stone-faced, “No, we ain’t coming” treatment that some folks have gotten when they contacted Trader Joe’s versus others who would contact me all excited and say, “I just talked to someone at customer service and they say that they are going to be here soon.” I got so many conflicting reports that I just stopped posting speculation based on conversations with TJ’s Corporate.

Check out this entry from NashVeggie from just a couple a weeks ago:
Trader Joe’s Not Trading Here

I can understand, I guess. They’re a pretty secretive corporation and they don’t want some Whole Foods flunky to be able to call and get an update. What that has taught me, however, is just to keep being persistent and not take no for answer.

In that vein, I’d like to announce that I will be switching the focus of this blog to bringing Trader Joe’s to EAST NASHVILLE. Now that they are establishing themselves in Nashville, it raises the likelihood of getting one in this neck of the woods (I never really thought we’d get the first one). They don’t usually just open one store and stop.

I suppose it’s likely that they’ll open in yet another suburban part of town first (interestingly my husband and I both independently came up with Hendersonville as a possibility given all the development happening there). But we’ll see. They took advantage of an opening at a great location in Green Hills (other than the parking) and I hope that the forthcoming availability of 5th and Main will provide that same incentive.

Thank you to everyone who signed the original petition. A new one for East Nashville will be up in the near future as will changes to this blog.

Come on East Nashville

So H.G. Hills located at 615 Gallatin Pike is closing in May and they claim not to have a tenant yet. There have been rumors of an Aldi's, but I haven't heard it in a confirmed sense.

This is a prime time to for those of you who want an East Nashville Trader Joe's to contact Trader Joe's and let them know that there is a great location ready for them to move in.

Yes, I know, they don't have a distribution network set up (from what I have heard all they need is a warehouse in Atlanta and a few more solid nearby vendors). Yes, I know that the area we lovingly refer to as the 'hood isn't their typical first step into a new market. Whatever. It doesn't hurt to try and to get as many of our voices heard as possible. The more folks they hear from, the more likely they will give it a look.

So, I know I've been gone awhile. Thanks to those that are still subscribed. I haven't abandoned this, but it has been back burner for a number of personal and work related reasons. Let's see if we can't get some more traction with this new development!

"It's like a courtship..."

"It's like a courtship," Roter said. "A smart company like Trader Joe's is not going to act impulsively. This is merely a process we're going to pursue over a period of time." That's what a fellow Trader Joe's fan who is trying to "woo" TJ's to Albany, New York through a letter writing campaign told the Business Review. I couldn't agree more.

I've been away from this project for a little while and dealing with more day to day stuff (and let's make it official that regular weekly posts are unlikely, although sometimes you can expect several in a week--look to the right and subscribe to my blog and then you won't miss a post!).

So when I did my standard "trader joe's nashville" google search last night to see what I've been missing, I was a little surprised by all the letters to the editor and comments in the Tennessean about feasibility. Everyone seems so certain of their position about the likelihood or lack thereof.

I suppose I am guilty of that, too. I am certain TJ's will open up shop here eventually. What I become less sure of is if I will care anymore by the time they decide to grace us with their presence. As I have reported here previously, other grocers are starting to wake up and recognize that they can do what TJ's does, too. While I am doubtful that these grocery retailers will do it with such panache, I do have to wonder if in 5 years or so we are going to have options that leave us somewhat underwhelmed when TJ's does finally come to town.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not abandoning the cause. I still think Trader Joe's is the best grocery shopping experience that I've ever had (allow me to reiterate that I have never been to a Wegman's, so you don't need to sing me those praises), but I do find myself wondering if I will always feel that way.

OK. So, this doesn't sound like the cheerleader post that I was aiming for originally. In that post, I wanted to convey that [1] no one expects things to change overnight; [2] we're going to keep pushing for a TJ's and hope that the effort will make them show up a bit faster than they would have otherwise; and [3] the only people who know for sure when or if TJ's is coming to town is TJ's and even then, you often get different information from different folks (although they have consistently said that we aren't in the 2 year plan, it becomes unclear after that with different reports from different corporate employees about whether we are in the 5 year plan).

But, I hope you'll recognize that this post is also meant to convey hope of another kind. There is a clamor in Nashville for the kind of shopping experience that Trader Joe's offers. Someone WILL answer that call. It's basic economics: supply and demand. So, please, if you haven't already demonstrated your demand for affordable, quality groceries in Nashville, please sign the Trader Joe's petition.

Based on the hits on this blog, I can guarantee you that they aren't the only grocery chain paying attention. And I mean, hey, if this is a courtship, maybe we will have to resort to a little hard-to-get action to get what we want. I didn’t just write that, did I?

Beat Austin? Check. What's the Next Move?

While I will feel a little more confident when the lead is more significant, WE DID IT. We have replaced Austin as the current online petition with the most signatures (as far as I can tell). So, what’s the next move? In the words of another TJ’s fan that contacted me last week, “Is there a great plan behind this?”

I don't have a grand plan, but I do have some ideas for next steps. I think we need to find some folks with commercial property for sale or lease that would be a good fit in terms of location and square footage and we need to get them involved in the process of “wooing” Trader Joe’s (that’s the company's language for it). Additionally, we need to make connections with individuals in the commercial real estate business to do some research on locations and demographics and contact the company with suggestions.

While I appreciate people throwing out potential locations, what we really need is for a few individuals to take action and contact the owner(s) of the locations that you think would be a good fit.

I also think that we need to use the petition to leverage local decision makers (elected officials, chamber of commerce, etc.) to reach out to Trader Joe's as well. If we can get some business folks and some politicians working on it, I think it will be a nice complement to the more grassroots people power approach.

Anyone want to join me in this phase? Send me an email. I’m not particularly connected when it comes to commercial real estate professionals or chamber folks. I could use your help!

Thanks, to everyone who helped us reach the small goal of beating Austin. With that success under our belt, let’s keep the ball rolling.

Publix creating their own version of Trader Joe's?

In the quickly changing world of organic / health food stores, it seems Publix, the largest conventional grocery retailer in the southeast, has decided to enter the fray. According to Business Week, Publix is opening a series of GreenWise stores with private label products and convenience foods, not unlike Trader Joe's.

Zac Bissonnette, over at BloggingStocks--a site I have been enjoying recently, notes the apparent similarity in approach, and suggests, "If Publix can come close to creating the Trader Joe's atmosphere, Whole Foods better look out."

A particularly entertaining quote in the Business Week article from a Mintel International Group market research analyst, Marcia Mogelonsky, appears to take a not so subtle jab at Whole Foods (commonly known as 'Whole Paycheck' to those unimpressed by their prices): "Prices really draw in consumers. Most consumers can't go out and spend their whole paycheck on natural products."

Publix appears to be testing the waters in Florida with one 39,000 square-foot store opening in Palm Beach Gardens and plans for at least 3 more in the works.

Whole Foods might not be the only one who should be worried. Might I suggest to Trader Joe's that you make your entrance into the Middle Tennessee market before GreenWise gets here? We're desperate for you now. We may not feel so forlorn if we have other options.

We're in the Top 25 Petitions, again!

Our petition is in the top 25 petitions at Petitions Online, again!

Also, I don't know if it means anything, but I thought it was interesting that the blog had a visitor from Germany this morning. For those who don't know, Trader Joe's is owned by The Aldi Group, which is based in Germany.

Might be nothing, but it is fun to speculate.

Austin--You Know You Want to Beat 'Em!

OK folks, we are SO CLOSE. We are less than 200 (update on 9/29/07: make that less than 30, now) signatures away from surpassing Austin in their petition gathering.

They have been gathering signatures since 2006. We have been doing this for 5 freakin weeks!

A big shout out to the Tennessean for helping us garner a TREMENDOUS number of signatures in a short time (over 400 today!) Having the link to the petition in the article was very helpful. THANK YOU!

Nearing 2000!

Last night, I took a look at the petition and was like, "Hey, we are up to 1700. Cool."

This morning, I took a look and was like, "Whoa, we're over 1800. What happened?"

Then, I took a look at my email and my sister had written to let me know there was a screenshot of the petition on the front page of the Living section in the Tennessean. Having just gone to the website, we are also on the homepage of the online version.

[Update: As of the afternoon, it was moved to the the living section online.]

THANK YOU, TENNESSEAN!

Now, a few hours later, we are approaching 2000!

I was recently considering cancelling my subscription to save some bucks, since we get it at the office, too. You've just saved yourself at least one subscriber!

Petition Stats

200 signatures in first 12 hours
300 signatures in first 24 hours
400 signatures in 4 days
500 signatures in 5 days
600 signatures in 6 days
1000 signatures in 9 days
1200 signatures in 2 weeks
1400 signatures in 4 weeks

(update on 9/26/07)
1700 signatures in 5 weeks
(Thank you for the bump, All the Rage!)

(update on 9/29/07)
2300 signatures in 39 days
(Thank you for the bump, Tennessean!)

All the Rage "breaks the story"

So, this petition is almost one month old now and I have to admit I have been pleasantly surprised at the results. I certainly never expected to get over 1450 signatures in one month.

I have been lame about promoting it. I never got around to writing a press release, but one reporter found me and did a little piece on it: Will Trader Joe's Pick Nashville?

I hope we can get some more coverage. Maybe, I'll get off my butt and write that press release. Maybe...

What's Your Favorite TJ's Product and Does it Travel Well?

It's been so long, I'm not going to remember the cutesy names for them, but here are some of mine:

Travels well
Lemon Curd (I just tried this for the first time)
All the great marinades (we have a full pantry of them-Thai Yellow Curry is most excellent: mix it with an instant peanut sauce and I can almost make massamun curry without effort)
Garlic Mashed Potato Mix
Macaroni & Cheese (maybe that sounds crazy, but our little 3 year old connoisseur can most definitely tell the difference and often eschews other brands, even Annie's)
Dishwashing and laundry detergent

Not appropriate for long hauls
Cilantro and Chive Yogurt Dip (I guess this could be done with an ice chest, but we are usually asking a relative to bring things to us, and getting them to add an ice chest into the mix seems a little beyond the call of duty)
Frozen shu mai
Frozen quiche -- including 3 yummy flavors (Prelude to a Quiche, I believe)
Frozen Chicken Enchiladas
Frozen Chicken Burritos
Frozen Steak Burritos
Frozen rice and noodle bowls (there were a variety of these)

Yeah, I like convenience foods. Devoting time to cook and clean up a bunch of pans is just not something my family can/will deal with right now.

The unfortunate part is that most of them are frozen. Which is what is so frustrating about not having a TJ's close by. If I could just road trip and stock up several months supply of my favorite foods, it wouldn't be intolerable. But am I supposed to bring a freezer with me?!!

Is there anybody out there?
How about you guys? I'm sure I have forgotten a lot of the things that I used to buy. I'm not sure being reminded of it will be good for my mood (sorry about the recent negativity, folks), but I would love to come up with a topic that people would respond to!

Trader Joe's Rants

OK, These posts from the Best of Craigslist just crack me up, so I had to share:

A Breakup Note to Trader Joe's

Rant- Trader Joe's

Woo-Hoo! 1000 signatures in 9 days!!

Nashville rocks more than I knew!

We just hit one thousand "signatures" a few minutes ago after only nine days!

I'll be calling Trader Joe's Corporate in the morning to let them know and to try to get the skinny on what they are thinking.

But we're not done yet! We still have to beat the pants off of Austin, so we're not even halfway yet. KEEP IT UP!