TJ’s Support Group
The We Want Trader Joe’s Committee wants to bring good snacks and good jobs to Fortuna
(July 30, 2009) Attending a session of the We Want Trader Joe’s Committee can make a girl kinda hungry. They meet Wednesday afternoons inside Fortuna’s branch of Redwood Capital Bank in Strongs Creek Plaza on the south end of town — but, so you know, the bank has no official interest one way or the other in whether Fortuna gets a Trader Joe’s store, which is the goal of this committee.
That said, several of the women on the committee — occasionally a man attends a meeting — happen to be bankers, real estate agents and other community stalwarts. And when they meet to talk strategy for coaxing TJ’s hither, they tend to have additional mover-shaker agendas they segue into and out of. For instance, at the meeting I went to, they first had a planning session on another campaign they’re pushing: the Supply Our Schools (SOS) drive for school supplies to augment the budget-squinched Fortuna schools’ thin cupboards.
The point is, they’re all business, no snacks, and when the meeting’s over they rush back to their jobs or yet more meetings. Which made last Wednesday’s meeting tough on my empty stomach. I asked the women, why a Trader Joe’s?
“Chocolate covered sunflower seeds,” said Jennifer Budwig, a banker. “Two-buck chuck [that cheapo-good wine from Charles Shaw].”
“Chocolate-covered espresso beans,” said Sally Conley, a realtor.
“Their chocolate-covered bing cherries are incredible,” said Elan Puno, a mortgage banker.
“It’s just a unique experience,” said Jan Belisle, a banker.
“You can get certain Chai teas that nobody else has here,” said Delores Reeves, a mortgage consultant.
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FOUR Comments
Comment / By Beverly Parlet / July 31, 2009, 9:14 a.m.
I lived in San Diego for nearly 30 years before returning to my home town of Ferndale. I shopped at TJ’s all of the time and when I go back to visit SD, I go there not just to shop, but to have the TJ’s experience. I love their store! I truly believe that we have the number of people to support a Trader Joe’s coming from southern Oregon to southern Humboldt and beyond. Then we have Willow Creek and Willits. I believe that having a TJ’s in Fortuna would bring more revenue to other merchants as well. You have to get people to Fortuna to have them shop in Fortuna. TJ’s would do that. Where’s the petition? I will sign it in a heartbeat!
Comment / By How to suggest to TJ’s / July 31, 2009, 10:15 a.m.
Hi, web-site instructions are:
www.traderjoes.com Contact us Click on the stamp From the “Please select a subject” drop down menu, click “location request” Fill out form including comments. If you don’t live in Fortuna, let them know how far you’ll drive to shop at Trader Joe’s
Comment / By Party Pooper! / July 31, 2009, 12:56 p.m.
I don’t want to be a party pooper - I love TJ’s when I’m out of the area traveling just as much as the next guy or gal………….But, how about a local business! I know we have some smart business men and women right here in Humboldt who can provide us with a locally owned and operated grocery store with the same unique shopping experience! Would somebody jump on this already!
Comment / By Humboldt Expatriate / Aug. 4, 2009, 3:32 p.m.
Party pooper, I don’t believe it would be possible for a local business to replicate the Trader Joe’s experience, specifically in terms of pricing. They take a Walmart-esque approach to their vendors, demanding low prices, but providing shelf-space and exclusivity (you’ll notice you don’t often have more than 1 or 2 options per item at TJ’s). A non-chain business couldn’t promise the volume that would allow vendors to cut such prices. For those that enjoy particular items that are found at Trader Joe’s, try making a request at Wildberries, the Co-op, or Eureka Natural Foods. You’d be surprised how responsive the existing local grocers can be to customer requests. [full disclosure, I currently reside in Santa Cruz county and do a majority of my grocery shopping at TJs—love it!—also I previously worked at a (Humboldt County) food producer that supplied to TJs, but also both of my parents 30+ year employees at one of the local grocery stores.]