Trader Joe's possibly opening another location in Southlake (Dallas, Fort Worth: 2014, lease)

[synchronicity]

Many of you probably read this a few days ago, but since I didn't see it posted: Trader Joe’s to build store at Southlake Town Square | Northeast Tarrant | News f...

[quote]Trader Joe’s said Wednesday it has signed a lease for a grocery store in Southlake Town Center that will open in 2014, its second Tarrant County store.

The 13,500-square-foot, two-story store will be built at the northwest corner of Southlake Boulevard and Central Avenue. Moderator cut: copyright violation More news at the link, obviously. What's ironic is I was just talking about this Friday, unaware of the news. Color me wildly excited!

[loves2read]

the shopping part will be on 2nd floor with 70 parking spaces on that level--
going to be VERY crowded if the FTW store is any indication of how people feel about Trader Joe's...

[TrueDat]

I've only been to the Dallas store that recently opened a couple of times and while there were a good number of people there, neither time was it overwhelming or a zoo. Like with In N Out, once the novelty wears off and more outlets open in the area, each one will become less of an insane shopping experience. So Southlake may not be as bad as Fort Worth when it first opened.

[TheotherMarie]

Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease. I'd love to have one closer to us.

[rantanamo]

I still don't understand why Trader Joes continues to be viewed as an upscale store in the metroplex. I'm basing that view on where they open. The prices there are very reasonable compared to even places like Tom Thumb or Kroger. More like Aldi without the minimalist quirks and more of a refrigerated and frozen section vs Aldi and its large amount of boxed foods.

[TheotherMarie]

Originally Posted by rantanamo

I still don't understand why Trader Joes continues to be viewed as an upscale store in the metroplex. I'm basing that view on where they open. The prices there are very reasonable compared to even places like Tom Thumb or Kroger. More like Aldi without the minimalist quirks and more of a refrigerated and frozen section vs Aldi and its large amount of boxed foods.

Is TJ's considered an upscale store? In California we just think of it as a place to get more unique and healthful types of foods. But they do tend to be located in good neighborhoods. I wonder if that isn't more for safety and the residents' willingness to spend, though, rather than being upscale.

[loves2read]

That is the point--great quality at reasonable prices---plus it is trendy--
when has Kroger ever been trendy...
The Trader Joe's in FTW started out very crowded--news stories about how people were parking illegally to shop there even after the new wore off...
think the Southlake store will be quite the thing--and will likely take some custom from Market Street...
We drive past Trader Joe's in Sarasota FL when we are at our vacation house and the parking lot is usually very full in or out of season...
Have never been in one so can't speak from personal opinion--
but in Southlake think it will be very successful...

[Souleiado]

Originally Posted by rantanamo

I still don't understand why Trader Joes continues to be viewed as an upscale store in the metroplex. I'm basing that view on where they open. The prices there are very reasonable compared to even places like Tom Thumb or Kroger. More like Aldi without the minimalist quirks and more of a refrigerated and frozen section vs Aldi and its large amount of boxed foods.

It is considered upscale for its very unusual selections , their large European and natural style food ,( the frozen section is very similar to an European store ) not their price . People buying on a regular basis at TJ are usually middle and upper class , very similar to Whole Food and Central Market . They are also very free trade and anti GMO , that alone attract a certain more intellect population. They did some studies and did pick their first stores in Texas as The Woodlands and Plano for those reasons.
They can offer lower price since they do not have main brands , and they do not care about the look of the store , it has become part of the legend .

[rantanamo]

Originally Posted by TheotherMarie

Is TJ's considered an upscale store? In California we just think of it as a place to get more unique and healthful types of foods. But they do tend to be located in good neighborhoods. I wonder if that isn't more for safety and the residents' willingness to spend, though, rather than being upscale.

As it has opened in Texas, it seems to have that kind of cache. Definitely located in more upscale areas, and has been mentioned with Whole Foods and Central Market here, which both are certainly expensive as far as groceries go. We are frequent WF and CM shoppers for certain things and the prices were a great surprise. More like Aldi than anything else. I dunno if it caters to certain intellects, but its certainly cheap enough for anyone to shop there.

[synchronicity]

Originally Posted by rantanamo

As it has opened in Texas, it seems to have that kind of cache. Definitely located in more upscale areas, and has been mentioned with Whole Foods and Central Market here, which both are certainly expensive as far as groceries go. We are frequent WF and CM shoppers for certain things and the prices were a great surprise. More like Aldi than anything else. I dunno if it caters to certain intellects, but its certainly cheap enough for anyone to shop there.

There are many TJ stores in Chicago (15+?), and in general the locations have been in similar areas to here. They began opening there a little over a decade ago, IIRC, with little fanfare but rapidly became popular by word of mouth.

Having a TJ's just a block or so from CM will be very nice. There's also a Sprouts about two miles to the west (at Davis/Randol Mill and Southlake), and for regular chains there's a Tom Thumb about a mile west (White Chapel & Southlake) and a Kroger about a mile east.

Now, if only there was a decent Asian grocery anywhere nearby...