Trader Joe's Coming to Atlanta

The Atlanta Business Chronicle is reporting that Trader Joe's is looking to open stores in the Atlanta area:

Alison Mochizuki, national publicity manager for Trader Joe's, confirmed that the company is planning to enter metro Atlanta, but declined to provide any more information. "We're excited to be coming to Atlanta," she said.

Comments

[david Ford]

Good news for Atlanta. I am hoping and praying they will open one in Raleigh-Durham or Chapel Hill NC. Whole Foods and Fresh Market both do really well here and the area is growing at an amazing pace with transplants coming in from the Northeast as well as the West Coast. So with the increased influx of people in the know combined with the Urban renewal going on in Raleigh-Durham there is a vibe happening that would definitely be in tune with the trader joe lot. I would even be happy if they opened one in Charlotte as it is only 2+ hours away as opposed to the one I go to now in northern Virginia which is like nearly 4 hours away. We always stop in on trips to or from DC and buy like 6 boxes of raisin nut bran along with everything else.... oh well. Great site by the way. Cheers Dave

[Michelle]

Trader Joe's PLEASE COME TO ATLANTA (specifically Buckhead, please)!

[Teresa]

My prayers have been answered!

I'm sure they will go into whatever areas will best serve their niche. I'm betting on Midtown first, but Buckhead would be a good choice as well. Midtown is rife with the Trader Joe's type of customer and the market is not overrun with competition.

Alas, I am a couple of miles OTP on the West side and though I think this area would welcome and support a TJ's I think it will be a cold day in - well, you know - before they will come to the West side. I will drive to TJ's wherever it is in the ATL, but I know I could not be the regular TJ's shopper I desperately long to be if I had to do a 30-minute drive every time.

[Barbara]

i was in trader's in cathederal city, ca on my semi-annual vacation there and when i commented that i wished a trader's would open in atlanta b/c i spend a fortune every time i visit out west, he informed me that one will be coming here. yipee! i am elated and would like to know when/where. please hurry!! i am spending a fortune, not only loading up when i'm there, but shipping the things back home to atlanta!!

[Bridget]

I wrote to Trader Joes over a year ago and suggested they take over the spot vacated by Market One at North Highland and Ponce de Leon. They wrote back and said they had no plans to enter the Atlanta market. The Business Chronicle article only mentioned one specific spot that they are considering and of course it's the Market One location. C'mon Trader Joes - hook me up with a gift certificate or SOMETHING! You know you got the idea from me. Anyway. I'm just glad they're coming!!

[Clare]

I used to live near a Trader Joe's and LOVE it. I now live in Atlanta and have said numerous times we need one of those. I think the midtown area is perfect. Buckhead gets all of those places and competition and the traffic to get there from midtown is fierce. Trader Joe's would BOOM in the midtown/Va Highlands area. Get here soon!!

[Irene]

Trader Joes: Hilton Head Island-Bluffton SC, (just north of Savannah, GA) would be welcoming you with open arms,and wallets, to this resort area. There is a Sun City in Bluffton and most residents are northeast transplants who are aquainted with your stores. I am a transplant from southern Californa and miss you big time. Please look into this delightful area for locating a store.

[Kris]

Dear Trader Joes,

Your store is simply the best grocery store in the nation. I have shopped at your many Seattle area stores and have only praise to give. I am very happy to know you are considering opening a store in Atlanta - In fact I have been sending Trader Joes care packages to several friends who have since moved there. I would highly recommend building your store near the university, Georgia Tech. It is close to two major freeways, a nice area in general, and you have thousands of students who must drive or lug home groceries over long distances from the other grocery stores. I can speak for the University District Trader Joes here in Seattle and it is always busy.

[Shannon]

I heard that Trader Joe's is coming to the Charleston, SC area. Do you have any details? Location? Grand opening? Can't wait!

[Ali]

Has anyone heard anything else about when/where the Atlanta store will be?

[Adeline]

As a former SoCal resident, I miss my TJ's so much! Buckhead would be the best location over Midtown because of parking and ease of access alone! Please hurry. . .suffering from withdrawls now. . .

[Teresa]

Bridget caught the Metroblogging Atlanta post about an item in yesterday's Atlanta Business Chronicle saying two stores will open - one in Sandy Springs and one in Midtown - with a total of 12 stores possible. I say 12 stores is a good START!

But anyway, yippee! If anyone sees any signs of TJ's going into a space around town please let the rest of us know.

[Teresa]

I got a copy of the 2/24 ABC with the TJ's article and there's enough solid information in it to get excited about:

"Trader Joes’s spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki declined to confirm the leases, but said the company will enter the market by year end."

The article says that TJ's has signed a lease for a store in Midtown Promenade on Monroe Drive, as well as a location in Sandy Springs on Roswell Road. It also states that they are negotiating leases on two additional stores, one in East Cobb and one in Buckhead.

This is all "according to several people close to the lease negotiations," the article says.

[Jack Arogeti]

There is a NEW wonderful real estate opportunity in Midtown on West Peachtree Street right between The Plaza Midtown and Spire condos and just a few blocks from GA Tech. Demographically and traffic wise perfect for Trader Joe's.

Alison or other at Trader Joe's, please email me if interested in seeing this just released opportunity.

Thank you and welcome to Hotlanta.

[Rica]

I am so excited!!!
When we lived in LA we mostly got our groceries at Trader Joe's...now I am spending WAAAY too much money at Harry's or Whole Foods and it has been really bugging me since day one.
Wherever Trader Joe's decides to open their first store in the Atlanta area - I'll go there...here in the suburbs (Roswell that is) it seems like people go to whatever is closest and most convenient...so if Trader Joe's would open a store in this area one day...all they need is a location that is in some distance to other grocery stores and they will get tons of people.

[ivetta]

First of all thank you for kosher meat items and please open the store in Atlanta the best location in Lavista area .

[EAJ]

Well, it's officially in the AJC that Atlanta is getting our beloved store! Myself and several neighbors are so excited to be getting TJ's. We are west coast transplants and miss it terribly. We would love one in Kennesaw/Acworth/Cartersville area! Things are moving out this way and we would love NOT to have to drive into town for Harry's (Marrieta) and TJ's.

[Diane]

You lucky ducks!! I sure wish they'd put one in Augusta - we sure need it!!

[Bobby Kircher]

I believe Trader Joe's is moving into the old Winn Dixie spot on Monroe Dr at the Midtown Promenade shopping center.

[Trina Shultz]

As a former California resident I am so excited to hear that Trader Joes is coming to Atlanta. There are plenty of transplants here that would love to see you soon and will frequent you often. Kennasaw/Lost Mountain would be a good location. Out this way we have nothing even similar to Trader joes that I am aware of.

[Chrissy]

Having moved from San Fran, I can't tell you how much I've missed Trader Joe's! I may be a little biased because we're moving to the area, but I think Smyrna/Vinings needs a Trader Joe's. Sandy Springs and Midtown already have Whole Foods, but Smyrna is growing like crazy and has only one small "health" food grocery store. Please!

[Katherine Bustillo]

Hello My beloved Trader Joes,

For the last two years I have been thinking about how I want to move home to LA and shop at my favorite grocery store (that I also used to work at for). Now, my plans are to settle here in Atlanta. You will be opening up here and my life is complete. So some spots that we think you should open:

Roswell
Sandy Springs
Virginia Highlands
Buckhead
Midtown
Austell
Vinings
East Atlanta
Duluth
Alpharetta

I am so giddy that you are coming! I can't wait to tell my husband!!

Lots of love,
Kathy

[Pat]

...and don't forget the southside.

Fayetteville, Camp Creek, McDonough

[Dan]

Read today's AJC article, confirming what I had heard in other places. I cannot wait! Midtown Promenade would be OK, but I'd prefer that TJ's take over the old Market One space at Ponce & Highland. Even better, consider the Decatur area - all of the recent infill development and gentrification there gives the perfect demographics for TJ's.

[kari]

How about Athens? Would do so well here.