The Rochester D&C did an article recently on the difficulty of locating a grocery store in downtown Rochester. One company they interviewed was Trader Joe's. Apparently, Rochester is not on their radar. Really? I wonder if the success of Wegman's could possibly be our own worst enemy? I'm sure Trader Joe's is aware of Wegman's. And I'm also betting that like almost every other grocery store chain in the nation, they fear Wegman's tremendously. The basic reaction of the crappy grocery store chains is, "Oh shit... Wegman's... we're in trouble." From what I can see, this is because Wegman's is really, really, really good. They don't look at it like they're doing us a favor by providing groceries. They recognize the importance of the customer and treat them extremely well.
But this doesn't address the Trader Joe's (or any other niche grocery chain) not coming to Rochester. Clearly, there is a need for a downtown grocery store. And The Sagamore on East *might* be a good place for it, but god only knows. It would seem, however, that the East End would be a great location for a Grocery in the City. It's strategically located in one of the fastest growing areas of the City - and it's continuing to grow. There's going to be another great development on Charlotte street which will further boost residential numbers in the City. Given all the other new residential in the area, that screams "market opportunity" to me. Especially for a small format, Trader Joe's style grocery chain. Sure, Green Grocer just opened up on South Avenue, but they're not open really long hours, and they're closed entirely on Sundays. If the trend continues, I'm sure something will pop up. I'd love it to be Trader Joe's, but I won't hold my breath.
9 comments:
I am not sure that Trader Joes is afraid of Wegmans. I think that they might not see a market for the kind of grocery store they are. There are alot of Safeways in Tucson and they are as good if not better then Wegmans and there are atleast 5 trader joes here.
Safeway is certainly not better than Wegmans. Wegmans is recognized throughout the nation as one of, it not the #1, supermarket focused on quality and prepared foods.
You have to remember - Wegman's is limited in their offerings in New York State because of laws here, particularly around wine and alcohol sales. Go to the mega Weggies in Philly before you say Safeway is better.
Trader Joe's is the best grocery store ever!!!
I lived in Western New York for several years and while Wegmans is better than other typical grocery stores, TJ's is just a different kind of store. I love that it barely carries any namebrand food, that their store-brand knock-offs of national brands are cheaper AND better than the originals (and I thought I was a die-hard Oreo and Cheerio fan. Nope! Jo-Jo's and Joe's O's are the best), and that you don't have to bother with the aisles full of junk food that the standard grocery carries--TJ's carries junk food, don't get me wrong... their chocolates are amazing... but when I returned to a Wegman's last year after several years of shopping at TJ's, I almost fell over from sugar shock just from seeing all the candy. How can parents take their kids there without the kids wanting all that? All of that, plus Trader Joe's carries very few non-grocery items, and the ones they do (laundry and dish soap, bath tissue, toothbrushes) are environmentally friendly. AND Two Buck Chuck!
To me, the question wouldn't necessarily being afraid of Wegman's per se: it would be afraid that the market wouldn't be right for the kind of store that Trader Joe's is. It's not a one-stop shopping kind of place, so you'll have to go somewhere else for your prescriptions and your cosmetics--which works just fine for me shopping in Southern California, but I can imagine that could hurt them a little come a western NY winter--why slog through the slush in the freezing cold to two different stores when you could just go to one?
Best of luck! Hope everyone gets their own TJ's soon!
(Sorry to barge in... I wandered over from a friend's page...)
I live in Charlotte and Trader Joe's has been a breath of fresh air in the neighborhood. We have a stretch of road near our home with Aldi's (German), 2 Harris Teeters (Wegman wannabe) Bi-Lo and Food Lion. When Trader Joe's moved in it was no longer getting food but a friendly lower key 'village' experience in shopping not to mention their lower prices and quality healthy products. I call it "buy one and get free therapy!" I am visiting my son in Rochester this weekend and plan to bring him some samples from Trader Joe's. I think smug-town really hasn't changed at all.
I'll take Safeway over Wegmans any day! Like Robert said above, there were Safeways and Trader Joes in Arizona when I lived there. They are both different shopping experiences and offer different items. I also think Trader Joes would do a hell of a business even parked right on the Monroe Ave strip near Wegmans
My son lives in East Hampton Long Island. In his area there are at least 3 supermarkets in a 3 mile radius from his house PLUS a trader Joe's. The Trader Joes is always busy. The prices are right, and the products are good. Whenever I go to see him, I shop at Trader Joes and stock up.
Marty
trader joes would make a killing in rochester...big mistake...i have lived many places and this area spends on quality foods that is why wegmans does so well...
Hey just heard that Trader Joe's is coming to Pittsford, thought I would share :)
-Ali Nash
Trader Joes is opening in Pittsford Plaza in 2012, but they bare also planning multiple locations in Greater Metropolitan Rochester, including downtown EastEnd !
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