matchjames,
how many requests do you think TJ's will need to be convinced? Do you know anyone at TJ's? Please help.

This is so true.
"TJ's corporate probably sees 8 miles and thinks we're right near TJs. That's why I mentioned that Edgewater is 40 minutes away."

I feel that we have so many great points here which TJ's may have not even realized. I wonder it's worth writing a letter instead of giving them these great points one by one. Or am I too naive?

ThirdGrove,
So, you think it's easier to establish our own grocery or co-up than to convince TJ's to open a store? I have no idea what it takes to establish our own grocery or co-op. (I don't even know the difference in these two...) I have to look into that. But I have to say I like TJ brands very much and establishing our own grocery won't be same as having TJ's near us...

Wawa can wait. One at a time, if we get TJ's, we move on to Wawa

Meanwhile, you can submit the request here.

http://www.traderjoes.com/static/contact_us.html

Great points, ThirdGrove! Yes, it can happen! That's why I think it's worth sending requests to TJ.

http://www.traderjoes.com/static/contact_us.html

Please take a moment and send them an e-mail request.
I don't normally send these requests to corporates because they don't normally listen but maybe TJ will... I think this is very reasonable request and I am so desperate! Ha ha.

I applaud your tenacity, but I really don't see this happening anytime soon.

YOU ARE PROBABLY RIGHT.

1) Last I looked, Grove Pointe is essentially filled with Duane Reade (soon to be Walgreens). Even if they did smaller than their standard size, where are you talking about putting it?

HOW ABOUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING? THE DRY CLEANER SIDE. NOW, THE ICE CREAM SHOPS IS GONE AND THE SPACE NEXT TO IT HAS NEVER BEEN OCCUPIED.

2) The commuter argument makes no sense.... no one living in a suburban environment that parks in JC to go to NYC is going to grocery shop here before getting HOME to an easier-to-park, less frenetic TJ's than anything in JC.

BUT IF YOU ARE GETTING OFF FROM PATH YOU CAN JUST WALK TO TJ HERE INSTEAD OF GET ON YOUR CAR AND PARK AGAIN TO TJ NEAR YOUR HOUSE. NO? PLUS, THE TAX IS CHEAPER.

3) TJ's likely feels they are already serving what amounts to be a VERY small group of potential JC customers with TWO locations.... Edgewater if you have a car, 14th St. if you don't. And I only say a small group of potential customers because running demo's on 07302 shows VERY poor incomes, despite new condo's all over the place. For all the higher income families in downtown now, it's a demographic drop in the bucket against ALL of 07302, which is all they have to measure it on. That store in Edgewater is there is because they have crazy density with a MUCH more well-off shopper.

I UDERSTAND THEY USE VERY SOPHISTICATED LOCATION RESEARCH BUT I THINK THERE ARE SOMETHING YOU CAN NOT REALLY MEASURE ESPECIALLY UNIQUE AREA LIKE JERSEY CITY DOWNTOWN. DOES INCOME MATTERS THAT MUCH WHEN YOU DO GROCERY SHOPPING? I MEAN TJ IS NOT THAT EXPENSIVE.
YOU KNOW TOO WELL. YOU MUST KNOW SOMEONE WORKING FOR TJ! PLEASE CONVINCE THEM TO COME SEE THE DOWNTOWN AGAIN AND TAKE A CHANCE! I AM SURE YOU CAN COME UP WITH THE BETTER REASON THAN I DO!


ALSO: for all our density and relatively poor incomes, we're arguably saturated with supermarkets... yes, yes, we all hate them for one reason or another but with PathMark, ShopRite AND A&P all here and thriving, TJ's doesn't stand a chance of performing where they need it to to justify the rents.

YES BUT I DON'T WANT TO SHOP AT THESE MEDIOCRE SHOPS! I GUESS THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS THE RENT, ISN'T IT?


4) The new market at 77 Hudson is going to be an independent for exactly this reason: No national chain (Whole Foods, TJ's, Fresh Market, etc.) wants Downtown Jersey City, even in a brand new luxury building.

I THINK SOMEONE HAS TO TAKE A CHANCE AND DO IT. AND I THINK AMONG THESE NATIONAL CHAIN YOU MENTIONED TJ FITS MOST IN THIS AREA.

BE ON OUR SIDE FOR A MINUTE AND PLEASE COME UP WITH GOOD REASON WHY TJ SHOULD COME TO THE DOWN TOWN, PLEASE!

Please request TJ for the location on the following website. http://www.traderjoes.com/static/contact_us.html
I am not going to give up on this anytime soon!
Thank you.

I don't know anything about retail business but I think "Walkable" is a key for this TJ. Jersey City Down town is unique area. Some people have cars, some people don't have cars. But there are so many commuter parking around here. Don't they want to stop by at TJ before they hop in the car? It should be 3.5% tax, right? It must be cheaper than where these people live.

And for those who commute by PATH, don't you want to stop by at TJ before you get to home? I do grocery shopping on weekends but there are always something I need in the middle of the week (Bad planning, I know... ) or I just want to get lazy and just buy TJ's excellent frozen foods (Yaki onigiri anyone?) or prepared foods. Or if they really come to the down town, I maybe able to ditch weekend grocery shopping altogether.

How about Grove Pointe retail space? Is that too small? If it's empty for such a long time why don't they just lease to TJ much cheaper? I am sure that will atttarct more people to live there.

I personally like the C-town location idea but I guess that won't work for so many people...

Hello,
I was shopping at Trade Joe's yesterday and I was dreaming of having them near the Grove Station. I read somewhere in this site that Trade Joe's actually looked in to this area but I found out we can actually request them for the location on their website. http://www.traderjoes.com/static/contact_us.html
You have nothing to lose to request. please take a moment to send them a reuqest!
Thank you.

Hi,
I am trying to find out about new daycare located at Gulls Cove. They have very nice website (http://teachingabcs.com/index.php?opt ... t&view=frontpage&Itemid=1) but I always get answering machine when I call the number on that website. Does any one have info like when it opens? It sounds like they have more locations but does anyone know their reputation?

Thank you.

Can't speak to the guilt or innocence of Skinner's Loft (although I do find their fare altogether too grease-laden to be palatable), BUT illicit dumping of cooking oils into municipal sewers is an open secret in the restaurant trade.

In fact, the WSJ had an A-head (cover story feature) about this very problem a couple of years ago. I recall reading therein that Chinese restaurants allegedly were the most notorious offenders.

Maybe the solution is pumping the sewers full of Lipitor! I'm sure the Jersey phrama lobby can convince the state assembly to add a budget provision to fund such a worthy cause...

Ugh. I feel terrible about missing this! Really wanted to be there. Anybody know if she plays venues in JC on a (semi) regular basis? I checked out her website but only saw a listing for a recital in the Bronx, which is a little far afield for me...

Anybody catch this in the paper?


Bret bites into all the mayor's race equations so far
Wednesday, May 21, 2008

W hat was just smoke and embers is starting to flame up. Blowing on the growing fire is former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler, who seems to be positioning himself for another run at the Grove Street office.

On Saturday, on the big stage at the Everything Jersey City Festival on Central Avenue, there was Schundler among the elected and other dignitaries. It was Mayor Jerramiah Healy who introduced Schundler to the crowd and during exchanges with residents, the former mayor was asked about a poll and whether he is planning to run again next May. After a bit of goading and some hemming and hawing, Schundler said his running is "possible" - and the flames flickered higher.

Possible? Bret is all but waving a placard - Vote for Me.

He has paid for a poll that came down to asking people for their opinion of Healy and himself on a series of issues - crime, education, etc.

About a month back, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, a Schundler ally when DeGise was City Council president under Bret's administration, said Schundler had his day and that he and the other Jersey City Democrats are firmly behind their fellow Heights Hibernian.

Back then, they could say this because they were convinced Healy had state Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham on his side. Now they are not so confident about the sincerity of her partnership with Healy and whether she covets City Hall.

Enter Plan B?

If Healy cannot keep Cunningham in his camp, it may be hard for DeGise and Councilman Bill Gaughan in the Heights to stay behind their "buddy." The last people they would care to see become mayor is Cunningham or former Assemblyman Lou Manzo.

They could live with Downtown Councilman Steve Fulop, to a point - and can he win?

This leaves an old relationship, possibly Schundler. Everything is in place. Besides having a number of former Schundler people in the county administration, Healy hasn't helped his position by pushing out some of his old backers, like John Reilly and Tom Moriarty, in favor of ex-Bret people, like Dominick Pandolfo, Healy's chief of staff, and Rosemary McFadden, deputy mayor.

The other person who could be hurt by Schundler entering the race is Fulop, who is trying to create a grassroots candidacy. Fulop and Schundler would appeal to the same Downtown people, although the councilman feels he has made inroads with his constituency and Schundler will have to reintroduce himself to many new residents. How does Fulop see Schundler's interest in becoming mayor?

"If Bret wants to get back into it, I think he would make a wonderful at-large candidate," Fulop said, even without showing the back of his hand. "Nothing changes for us. We're moving forward - not backward."

One problem for Schundler will be keeping his Republican status. For the "others" to truly embrace him, and to be acceptable to most in this day and age, he may have to convert into an Independent, even in a nonpartisan race.

Healy still has some influence in all this just by being chairman of the Jersey City Democratic Organization. DeGise and others can put an end to speculation just by holding a rally and swearing their loyalty to Mr. J.

In the real world, the question now is whether the small Jersey City fire will burn quickly and hotter, a bit sooner than most expected, or will it continue to smolder until after Labor Day, when campaigns traditionally get started?

The city election is a year away, but as one very smart fellow once said, the only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once.

NOT ON FAVE 5, BUT HE'S OK

A few columns back, it was noted by this columnist that North Bergen Mayor and Sen. Nick Sacco was not crazy about U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews. Sacco's publicist at Vision Media Marketing sent a statement from the senator. "(Some date), a Political Insider column in The Jersey Journal stated that I personally 'can't stand' Congressman Rob Andrews. This is completely false and there is no basis for such an outrageous statement. I know Rob Andrews, have supported him in the past and have a good relationship with him ." Perhaps I confused Andrews for George Norcross? Sacco is probably friendly with all those South Jersey guys. We should all get together for a BYOT lunch. If you wondered, the answer is "taster."


? 2008 The Jersey Journal

Even better would be a Fairway which has a fresher selection and lower prices than Whole Foods.
Let's be realistic: Whole Foods rarely locates in "low income districts" such as Our Fair City.
Fairway, on the other hand, makes a specialty of it (Harlem, Red Hook, etc.)
And you just can't beat their rich, ripe cheese counter...