Friday, September 9, 2011

TJ Opening Day!


Amazingly, it's been 507 days since we posted "Rumor has it...Trader Joe's Moving into old Sams Space!" and today this officially isn't a rumor (ok it hasn't been a rumor for a number of months, but you get what we're saying).

While it seems sort of silly to get excited about a grocery store opening in the neighborhood, this signifies a bigger trend. More and more businesses/restaurants/bars/stores are opening in the neighborhood.

Although we don't give all the credit to Trader Joe's, we think this news has spurred positive retail momentum in the neighborhood (see post on "The Impact of Trader Joe's") . Simply look across the street and you now see movement at an old eye-sore that appears to be coming down and being replaced with a new building.

Besides this the Chicago Sun-Times states that they're hiring a lot of people in and around the neighborhood:


More than 1,600 people came to the store — site of a shuttered Sam’s Wine & Spirits — to apply for jobs, said store captain Missy Brown.

Company spokespeople declined to say Tuesday how many workers each store employs, but insiders say it can range from 60 to 70.

The privately held Trader Joe’s, owned by the same German company that operates Aldi grocery stores, pays above-union wages to full-time workers, contributes to employees’ 401(k)s, and provides medical, dental and vision coverage to employees who work an average of 20 hours a week and their dependents, according to articles in trade and national magazines. Employees receive 10 percent discounts on store goods, according to the reports.

Forty percent of those hired at the South Loop store at 1224 S. Wabash live within a 3-mile radius, Brown said.
Anyway, enjoy some two buck chuck and let us know what you think about the new store!

30 comments:

ALS said...

Yay! I went in on my way to work. I don't know if it's me, but the aisles seem much wider than a lot of the other Trader Joe's stores in the city! On the other hand, the store itself seemed much smaller in square footage than the one on Lincoln Ave. in Lakeview. All the employees were really friendly, and I can't wait to go back!

Jeff Wagg said...

I'll be visiting today. Having a TJs in the neighborhood is going to significantly improve my diet, and significantly decrease the amount of time I spend frustrated at Jewel.

Jeff said...

Very happy to have TJ's in the neighborhood. Already did my shopping there this morning.

Anonymous said...

I went this morning around 9:00, and was pleasantly surprised how much more spacious it is than the downtown location. Very positive experience, great addition to the neighborhood, so happy it's finally here!

Anonymous said...

"While it seems sort of silly to get excited about a grocery store opening in the neighborhood, this signifies a bigger trend."

I don't think it's silly, as a matter of fact from what I saw this morning, quite a lot of people feel the same way.

Anonymous said...

I stopped in at ~8 AM friday and the store was pretty busy already! I bought about a row or two of their protein shakes (so good for post workout). This TJ is better than River North and will now be my goto grocery store.

Anonymous said...

Goodbye to Jewel FOREVER. It will be so nice to walk through a grocery store on my way home from the L and not come out smelling like fried chicken.

Jeff said...

Ha. I guess other people hate that Jewel as much as I do. I can't stand the place. I always walk out feeling angry and frustrated.

I'll never go there again. Now it's TJ's, maybe Dominick's once in a while, Target once every other month or so, and Peapod for heavy stuff.

Anonymous said...

Happy to have Trader Joe's in the neighborhood. Went this morning, place was packed. The staff was very nice (not bitching as it happens the majority of times at the Jewel) and helping people find their way around. Check-out was quick even though lines were long (att. Jewel personnel - head over and see how it's done!)
Great addition for the South Loop.

Anonymous said...

I just got back from the store and for the first time in the 5 years I have lived here, did the Sloop feel like a neighborhood. People were happy and actually talking to each other. There were people from all walks of life there, and the mood was very positive.

The store looked great. Everything was clean and organized. When a man accidentally knocked over a wine bottle, there were several employees there to clean up the mess in less than 10 seconds. Contrast this to Jewel which is littered with garbage, thieves, and vagrants. I cannot count how many times I have witnessed someone stealing chicken with there bare hands and eating it while walking around the store.

Make no mistake, I hate Jewel like a lot of my fellow sloop residents, but I feel bad for "some" of the employees. You know, the ones who actually talk to you after you say hello or thank you, or ask how their day is going?" I worry about Jewel's business declining enough to start letting some of the staff go.

Sundecker said...

Went @ 5pm. It was crowded but the lines moved quickly. Nicely designed store with good flow. This store will do very well here.

Christina said...

I swung by after work, around 5:30. Unfortunately there were some protestors there with picket signs. Something about how if "Traitor Joe's" paid 1 penny more per pound of tomatoes, farmers would be better off or something like that. I don't know. I wasn't going to let them rain on my TJ's parade! When I got in the store, the place was packed. I hadn't planned on buying anything, just wanted to go for a look-see, and it's a good thing I didn't need anything because the lines were very long - I'd say 10-15 people deep. Obviously, there's lots of excitement about this new addition to the neighborhood. I'm definitely glad they're here and I'm looking forward to heading back when it's a little less crowded.

Anonymous said...

What was going on with the protest outside tonight? Go away protesters for Fair Food, we are happy to have TJ's in the neighborhood!

Anonymous said...

Love the wide aisles, local produce section, and free parking! It will be so nice to stop by on my way home from work.

Anonymous said...

Something about tomatoes? It's a real issue... trader joes has been cited for buying tomatoes from farms that employ illegal workers. A non for profit agency has created a campaign that all major grocery store chains have signed except TJs. It says that companies would be willing to pay a little extra for food if it meant better working conditions and jobs.

Keep on drinking that Kool aid people. TJs marketing and branding have you lapping it up like a puppy.

Anonymous said...

Went their last night and it was great! Such a complete 180 to jewel. It was refreshing that the cashiers were polite. They even didn't have any jailhouse tattoos or discussed their baby daddy issues with the the other cashiers right in front of you.

Anonymous said...

I went yesterday and it is awesome! More spacious than their location on Ontario. The crew members were all really friendly and the manager was personally going around greeting shoppers and thanking them for coming. Another bonus: they gave out free vinyl TJ bags!

Anonymous said...

The bigger news flash is some diners were actually spotted at acappella bistro - more to come on this developing story

Anonymous said...

The accapella thing was an organized event...nothing to see here...

Anonymous said...

I'm quite surprised there aren't any negative comments. I like the store but the parking is worse than Jewel. Also, the aisles are actually too spacious which results in not much variety in the store. Customer service is friendly and I'll be back but it's not like this is the best place ever

Anonymous said...

I'm very excited to see the TJ's in the neighborhood! I love their stuff and am so glad not to have to trek to the North side to shop there. It is a great addition to the neighborhood. I walked so I can't say much about the parking but I'm sure it will be a bear to park for a while, but it can't be worse than the crazy lot at Jewel. One problem though, who puts the bathrooms on the lower level near the parking?

Anonymous said...

"Also, the aisles are actually too spacious which results in not much variety in the store."

Anon 5:47 PM, most TJ's are around the same footprint, and this one has a pretty good selection. I've been in TJ's in several states, and this is one of the nicest I've seen!

Anonymous said...

I walked by there yesterday and someone coming out of the store told me that there weren't any plans to open a trader joes in the south loop. I say it's still a rumor

Jim in the Sloop said...

Mrs. "Jim in the Sloop" actually went on her way home from work on the first day - I said she was crazy. She reports that she was lucky enough to snag a parking spot on the first level, and that the lower level situation "looked pretty ugly". I don't know if it was just overcrowded or if there's some design issue that makes it hard to drive around down there. I know they had to sort of shoehorn it in.

She loved the place generally, and said that although crowded things moved well and that every checkout stand was in use.

This will make a good "walk over on Saturday afternoon" destination.

Although I agree completely, I'm again amazed at how much that Jewel is hated by everyone. Do you think Jewel can possibly not know about the situation? As much as I hate the fried chicken smell, my biggest complaint is that every time I run in there for 4-5 BASIC things it will turn out that they don't stock one of them. Not "out of" but "not carried."

Anonymous said...

Anon@September 10, 2011 8:12 AM...
Get over it! No corporation is perfect. You can find fault in any company if you are looking. Trader TJ isn't perfect but more socially conscious than most. Far better than Walmart. They are good to their workers, pay benefit and a fair wage. Employees are happy to work there and customers happy to shop. Go ahead and join the protesters. I for one am happy to have them in the neighbohood. It would be a happy day if I never had to set foot in the Jewel again.

Anonymous said...

If more than 1600 people applied for 60-70 available jobs at TJs, then Jewel should fire every single current employee and start hiring from the pool of over 1500 applicants that were rejected by TJs. From that group, I guarantee you that there are at least 1000 people who would exhibit better customer service than anyone currently working at Jewel.

Joanna said...

It's nice to have a store with such happy employees, and my shopping time is always so much faster at Trader Joe's.

Anonymous said...

Yes I have been looking forward to Trader Joe's opening, yes I went there the other day, yes I loved it. Positive feelings, negative feelings...let's all move on. It is, after all, only a grocery store...

M said...

I am pleased with their small but good-quality selection of craft microbrews. Will have to try the Trader Joe's brand of beers! I miss Sam's Liquors, but not as much anymore.

Anonymous said...

very happy to see TJ in the hood. all other stores will have to drop the prices to keep up with them.

good for us!