“S” recently wrote in with this question…

I heard that Rep. Stephanie Stuckey Benfield has some sort of campaign going to bring Trader Joe’s to Decatur. Do you have any info on this?

On Monday, Rep. Benfield replied to the question…

Yes, for a long time I ran a notice in my weekly community updates encouraging folks to contact Trader Joe’s about opening a location in Decatur. I recently quit running the piece because I ran it for about 6 months. But I’m a big fan of Trader Joes and would love to see them in our community. I learned about the “movement” from Facebook and helped spread the word. By separate email, I’ll forward you one of my old Benfield Beats that publicizes the Trader Joe’s effort.

Link-wise the Facebook page is here, currently sporting 1,111 fans. And to check out the most recent Benfield Beat weekly newsletter, click here!

Big News!  The AJC just reported that Trader Joe’s will be opening a 6th Atlanta store!

What quirky locale did the alt-grocery store pick this time to go with its off-beat, Midtown, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Marietta, and Norcross locations?  Buckhead!

So, if you didn’t want to listen to me before, maybe you might turn an ear my way this time: Decatur, Trader Joe’s ain’t interested.

For all of its funky marketing, organic hummus and insane bell-ringing, Trader Joe’s has little desire to stray outside of the flatout rich, predominantly WASP areas of Atlanta, where they can open a huge store in a sea of parking and be the only funky outlet for millions of decidedly un-funky people.  For those more diversified masses who just want a decent frozen meal, we’ll have to drive to the Midtown location, comfortably bouyed between Ansley Park and Virginia-Highland.

That’s tough love for ya’.

Personally, I don’t think that Trader Joe’s would ever consider an Oakhurst location primarily due to access issues and low-population density.  But just the mention of a grocery store on the Oakhurst Message Board has gotten many local residents up in arms about the long-vacant Big H Center on the edge of downtown Oakhurst.

Accusations of turning down perfectly good companies and unreasonable rents have led the property’s owner and Oakhurst resident, Bruce Cohen, to respond on the board.

Here are his remarks…

I manage the property in Oakhurst where people have expressed interest in having a Trader Joe’s. Please be assured that the rumors of my turning down Trader Joe’s or any other grocery store at that location are completely untrue. I have approached every grocery store chain in the country about coming to Oakhurst, and the problem is that this location does not meet the requirements. National chains will generally only build stores with a certain traffic count and population density, and they almost always want to be at an intersection with a traffic light. I have also contacted every independent market in metro Atlanta; however, very few have expanded in the past several years due to competition from the chains. I was hopeful about having a Market One (the former Harry’s in a Hurry at Ponce and Highland) come to Oakhurst, but unfortunately that business folded.

I would love to have a grocery store in this property and welcome any suggestions or contacts anyone can offer. If anyone has any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at visionprop@…, and please put something in the subject line about 630 East Lake so I know your e-mail is not spam.

Again, I welcome and appreciate your suggestions, help or contacts.

Bruce Cohen–Vision Properties

Believe me, I’m just as anxious for a walkable grocery as the rest of you.  But over the months I’ve discovered there are real roadblocks for walkable cities that exist in the form of the grocery store expectations (be it huge parking lots or accessibility).  From my observations, Publix seems the most forward-thinking in the area, with locations at Atlantic Station and “coming soon” to Avondale (though I believe both still have tons of parking, just not in the traditional layout).  But Decatur folk already have a Publix in relative proximity at N. Decatur and Clairemont, so we must look for other alternatives.

Are Oakhurst residents excited about the Avondale Publix?  Though not necessarily walkable, I would think this would become, by far, the most accessible grocery store to the neighborhood.

I love fueling Trader Joe’s rumors.  It’s kinda become an unofficial past-time of mine.

Keeping all of that in mind, here’s an email thread (after the jump) that was passed along to me by Stuart, which claims that Trader Joe’s is looking around Decatur for its next Atlanta opening and expresses Avondale residents’ desire to get a Trader Joe’s somewhere in the “Avondale Estates/Decatur” area.

The Avondale email proposes use of the current Salvation Army store on E. College (who’s lease is up next year) for the next Trader Joe’s site.

I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that the area 1. hasn’t turned around enough and 2. is too close to the unknown-entity that is the unbuilt Publix store a few blocks down for Trader Joe’s to consider.  Just look at its other locations!

But regardless of the validity of these emails, its interesting to see so many residents in the area passionate for a Trader Joe’s.  Maybe at some point the great amount of interest by local residents will eventually win out over their continuing hesitancy.  In the meantime, I’ll just have to schedule afternoons off from work to get my Mandarin Chicken from the Midtown store. Read the rest of this entry »

A Decatur Metro reader writes…

Hello, I was curious as to whether you knew anything about the empty Advance Auto Parts or AutoZone building next to Eckerds at the five points of Scott Blvd, North Decatur and Medlock? This building has been vacant for over four years and seems like a prime location for a Whole Foods or Trader Joes.

Well, first things first. This property is outside the Decatur city limits, in unincorporated DeKalb County, so the Decatur Downtown Authority has no jurisdiction. Personally, I haven’t heard anything about developing the property at that intersection, so I welcome any further info in the comments.

While we may all wish for a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods closer than Midtown and Briarcliff/Lavista, respectively, I prophesy it would be difficult to convince either of these high-end food stores to come closer to Decatur due to a lack of upper income residences to our immediate east. I think the most likely of all of these scenarios is a Trader Joe’s inside the Decatur city limits. The Midtown location is a drive even for affluent Druid Hills/Emory residents (don’t get me started on Monroe Cr. traffic) so a Trader Joe’s around Decatur could be quite profitable.

But when I wish for a Trader Joe’s in walking distance of my house, even I feel pangs of greed and gluttony. I mean seriously, how much Mandarin Orange Chicken can one man eat?

OK, a lot. Why not email Trader Joe’s and let them know how you feel? Can’t hurt!