trader joe's.

[ignatius]

According to a friend of a friend who knows someone who knows someone who works for TJs, involved in site selection, they are currently considering 3 new locations at once...

- 135th/state line on MO side
- Valentine shopping center in midtown (old AppleMarket)
- Somewhere up North along I29 or Liberty

[Midtownkid]

That would do wonders for Valentine Shopping Center!  It would also smash my dreams of that place being torn down and replaced with a denser, prettier complex though. 

[ignatius]

If they do actually pick Valentine, I would hope they tear down the whole place and build new.  But I'll take it if they go in the existing spot.  It would be a huge boost for that hood and would create new investment in that area.  Maybe those apts will be upgraded for above avg market rate over time.

[DiggityDawg]

That would do wonders for Valentine Shopping Center!

As someone who lives a block away, just think of what it would do for the whole neighborhood.

Gawd - please let this come true.

[WSPanic]

TJs hours are typically 9a-9p - any potential parking conflicts with Uptown event parking?

[dangerboy]

Larry Sells has already given up on replacing the Valentine strip mall with a mid-rise.  He just wasn't able to do it.  Scott Fitness is currently renovating the basement of that building, so it isn't going to be torn down.

[janda]

Any new news on this?  Last I heard was 135th and State Line...

[mgsports]

Please don't post copyrighted material. -b

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/201 ... -to-firms/

[KCMax]

Delivery service brings Trader Joe?s to KC

Trader Joe?s, a privately held chain of specialty grocery stores, plans to open a store in the metro area, although no specific location has been named yet.

Until then, KC Grocery Service LLC is helping Trader Joe?s fans get their fix.

Which explains why in the bitterly cold predawn Monday, two people set off in an unmarked 14-foot truck on a four-hour trek to St. Louis.

[dangerboy]

Way to go Joyce, you are only about three months late to this story.

[chrizow]

i found that story to be pretty unbelievable.  wtf?! 

[nilsson1941]

Given the history on the matter, does this mean ANYTHING?

http://blogs.pitch.com/fatcity/2010/03/ ... e_rumo.php

[LenexatoKCMO]

Christ, at this rate they will have Trader Joe's in Salina, Jeff City, or somesuch before we ever get one in KC.  They clearly hate Kansas City. 

[KCMax]

Biggest dick tease ever.

[ignatius]

Christ, at this rate they will have Trader Joe's in Salina, Jeff City, or somesuch before we ever get one in KC.  They clearly hate Kansas City. 

They must hate Denver and the South too as most don't have TJs either.  The primary reason the core part of the midwest has TJ's is because there is a distro center in Chicago.  They need to open a distro center in KC to serve the surrounding cities as well as Denver.

The kcgroceryservice.com thing ironically might be killing KC's chances.  TJs has a presence without investing a dime.  If it is meeting the needs, TJs will select other cities first.

[loftguy]

It's been a few years now, but I've spoken to the new market development team at Trader Joes.  As result, I give no time to pondering whether or not they are coming to Kansas City.  Especially in todays retail market.

When I spoke with them, they had in excess of two hundred communities that were "dying" for a TJ to open in their backyard.  Some of these communities were offering to GIVE them a prime location, in order to secure this grocery phenom.  They said that they have far more to consider than the cost of the location, although that was a significant factor, as well (they expected to pay a far submarket rent on any location they chose to open.)

What an amazing business model. 

[Sportster]

Wife just got back from St. Louis where she spoke with the Manager at the Chesterfield location.
He indicated that: "the Kansas City store had been approved".
When pressed for location details however he stated that no site had been selected. Sorry - no more details other than that.


Sportster
...not a bad thing

[trailerkid]

Wife just got back from St. Louis where she spoke with the Manager at the Chesterfield location.
He indicated that: "the Kansas City store had been approved".
When pressed for location details however he stated that no site had been selected. Sorry - no more details other than that.


Sportster
...not a bad thing

TJs already confirmed many months ago they are actively looking at KC locations. I would guess they're trying to secure more than one location so it's worth it to have a presence in this market. Maybe they even need a CoMo location secured to make the KC market work without a distro center nearby.

I would anticipate both the south (119th or 135th) and the east (eastern independence or lee's summit) metro get locations based on their strength of large suburban retail zones and demos. However, it'll be a BIG letdown if they don't put in a location north of 75th inside KC proper. TJs refusing the Plaza isn't a good sign for an urban location here.

I've said it before, but look at how long it took Crate & Barrel to find a location after they started looking. Maybe a decade?

[jdubwaldo]

My fingers are still crossed for Ward Parkway Mall.  /
TJs + Five Guys, I would be in HEAVEN!!!!

[mgsports]

Five Guys is coming to Ward Parkway.
I would say Olathe would be a good Location or even Shawnee or KCK.