Trader Joe's drops black-neighborhood store plan.

[Merle 458]

So have I. I remember getting less for the money than at Ralph's, Albertsons or Shop rite.

Happy to be wrong.

Safeway and Fred Meyer are the biggest chain stores in ny area and quite possibly the whole state. They have them in every neighborhood, poor and affluent and they both are more expensive than Trader Joe's.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I suppose you'd need to compare your weekly shopping list.

I used to shop in TJs because they sold stuff the other shops didn't. Always went there in addition to a supermarket run at a Ralphs (safeway) never instead.

[Merle 458]

Either way, the original story is b.s. I dont see how putting a Trader Joe's in a low income neighborbood is going to entice peoople to move there.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Maybe that isn't the whole story.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I'd really like to hear more about the privately owned supermarket in lost's neighborhood that has over 1000 employees. I'd hate to think he was making stuff up too.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'd really like to hear more about the privately owned supermarket in lost's neighborhood that has over 1000 employees. I'd hate to think he was making stuff up too.

A store that big you'd never have a problem with things going out of stock ;-)

[JohnR! 5,495]

Either way, the original story is b.s. I dont see how putting a Trader Joe's in a low income neighborbood is going to entice peoople to move there.

Maybe that isn't the whole story.

Here is the original story, as published by The Oregonian:

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/02/trader_joes_pulls_plug_on_nort.html

Trader Joe's is backing away from a development in Northeast Portland, company officials said Monday.

"When it comes to choosing Trader Joe's store locations, we are deliberate and work hard to develop store sites with great potential for success," a company spokesperson said in an emailed statement to The Oregonian Monday morning.

While the company views the area south of Vanport Square in Northeast Portland as "a great neighborhood," Trader Joe's "will not be opening a store in the area," citing "negative reactions from the community."

"We run neighborhood stores and our approach is simple: if a neighborhood does not want a Trader Joe's, we understand, and we won't open the store in question," the statement read.

Majestic Realty Co., a California-based developer, had hoped to build the Trader Joe's store. The $8 million development included plans for 4-10 adjacent retailers and a 100-space parking lot on the two-acre site. The Portland Development Commission's board approved selling the land to Majestic for roughly $500,000. A recent property tax appraisal indicated if developed with market-rate housing, the property would be worth $2.9 million.

On Monday, the PDC and Mayor Charlie Hales' office issued a joint release. "We respect today’s decisions by Trader Joe’s and Majestic. We appreciate the various concerns raised by neighbors and other stakeholders, both in favor of, and opposed to, this project."

But overall, the news Monday is "a loss for the city and particularly for Northeast Portland," city leaders said. The release said they recognized all the hard work from Majestic Realty to make the project come to fruition. Hales and PDC officials also touted the selection of Portland-based Colas Construction, a minority-owned construction company, as general contractor.

"Moving forward, we will be communicating with the various stakeholders: Including those who wanted this development and who were excited about it, and those who didn’t want it to happen. It is too soon to say what comes next for this site. We will work with the full range of stakeholders to determine the next steps. And we remain committed to working with stakeholders to find projects for this and other development sites throughout the city," city officials said.

Phillip Brown, Majestic's vice president of acquisitions and development, said the company "has decided to take a time out on the proposed MLK/Alberta project to allow the PDC and the community at large to continue their dialogue."

Brown continued, "We have had strong support for the project but believe this will allow for more time to discuss and process some of the larger issues at hand. We greatly appreciate all of the hard work that so many have put into this project."

Trader Joe's officials declined additional requests for comment on Monday's announcement.

(At midday, the Portland African American Leadership Forum held a press conference at the Alberta lot to discuss its plans going forward. Read Casey Parks' story here)

-- Andrew Theen

[GandD 5,966]

You know where that is coming from .. Homeowners get a deduction on their taxes for home owner cost..... Poor people rent so it cost them more money to live .... (even if section 8 picks it up)Still ain't fair

Home owners get some credit for the interest they pay.......... That's doesn't mean it costs renters more per say. It sounds like you're talking about renting outside a city. Compare renting an apartment in a city to buying a house on the same land.

Edited February 5, 2014 by GandD

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

I shop regularly at TJ's. They're cheaper than Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons for some things, like milk, eggs (always cheaper) and certain vegetables. Their liquor prices are very good but their meat is not a good value. Tinned tuna, beans and frozen foods are usually competitively priced. It has a reputation for being "fancy" but that's simply because they carry some harder to find items. TJ's has all the basics for around the same price as the big guys. Even Whole Foods can be terrific value if you know what you're looking for (again, usually basics).

[Sousuke 1,214]

I shop regularly at TJ's. They're cheaper than Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons for some things, like milk, eggs (always cheaper) and certain vegetables. Their liquor prices are very good but their meat is not a good value. Tinned tuna, beans and frozen foods are usually competitively priced. It has a reputation for being "fancy" but that's simply because they carry some harder to find items. TJ's has all the basics for around the same price as the big guys. Even Whole Foods can be terrific value if you know what you're looking for (again, usually basics).

Yes, I consider TJ a value grocery store not high end which makes me question why its being fought.

Its a fact that poorer neighborhoods actually pay MORE for food then wealthier neighborhoods because of the lack of a local shopping market. They are instead forced to pay marked up prices at corner stores.

There is actually a drive to get MORE grocery stores into poorer neighborhoods to help the communities. IMO the community got this one completely wrong.

[GandD 5,966]

Its typically only a value store if you're buying organic stuff. That said, they do have $1 packages of noodles and some other non-organic deals. Still nothing compared to the discount grocery stores a lot of us wouldn't set foot in. And I've never seen anyone in a TJ's that was impoverished. Maybe college kids if you count that but I wouldn't.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Still waiting.

[JohnR! 5,495]

Yes, I consider TJ a value grocery store not high end which makes me question why its being fought.

Its a fact that poorer neighborhoods actually pay MORE for food then wealthier neighborhoods because of the lack of a local shopping market. They are instead forced to pay marked up prices at corner stores.

There is actually a drive to get MORE grocery stores into poorer neighborhoods to help the communities. IMO the community got this one completely wrong.

Right on the money.

TJ is anything but a high end store, which would make them a perfect fit for the very neighborhoods that do not want them. Who would think frugality is not considered snob!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Right on the money.

TJ is anything but a high end store, which would make them a perfect fit for the very neighborhoods that do not want them. Who would think frugality is not considered snob!

TJ is owned by Aldi, isn't it? Aldi North, I believe. Aldi South operates under their own flag in the US.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Still waiting.

It'll be awhile.