Holy rumor of rumors Batman! The Upper West Side may be close to getting a second Trader Joe’s store!
Trader Joe’s is close to signing a new lease for a store at the base of 670 Columbus Avenue between 92nd and 93rd street, The Real Deal reported today.
“The popular California-based grocery chain would occupy about 20,000 square feet across the ground floor and lower level,” the website reported, citing unnamed sources. Neither Trader Joe’s nor the retail landlord commented to the Real Deal. “A lease is expected to be signed in the next few weeks, sources said.”
(In case you’re new to the neighborhood, there’s already a Trader Joe’s on 72nd and Broadway with lines literally out the door.)
We reported on rumors of a Trader Joe’s coming to that space in a few years ago, but figured it was idle speculation. Well, it sounds like it’s getting a lot closer now…
OH my goodness! This just made my week! Fingers are crossed that this pulls through!
Would be an excellent location for TJ’s
The 72nd St location is my mecca for groceries so I selfishly hope this will alleviate the long lines here.
YAY!!!!
Went to the new Trader Joe’s at 72nd and Broadway … twice. Came out with nothing. I will never cheat on Fairway again. Best grocery store in the city.
OH Good. Maybe less time waiting at TJ 72 St. and more time doing much more important things. The 72 St. just increased checkouts from 29 to 31. Not much effect on wait time though.
Currently it is the highest grossing TJ store in the U.S. That’s what a 72 St. TJ store mgr. told me recently. I recall that she also said it has more checkouts than any other TJ store, but they are crammed into a very tiny space.
Now it will be battling the nearby Whole Foods instead of Fairway (which is having big debt problems) and other food retailers in the west 70s.
I don’t get it.
YEA! Hope these rumors are true
@Lavern Shirley,
You don’t get what? A new store is opening.
Most exciting news
I don’t think it will hurt the Whole Foods as much as it will hurt the D’Agostino’s on 91st.
@steve – so you went twice to a new store about 5 years ago and didn’t buy anything? Okay. lol.
That should take care of D’Agostino’s, I hope!
Now, if only Morton-Williams’d take over the former Food Emporium space on B’way & 90th…!
Great! Hope it happens this time and asap. Long overdue.
I live around the corner … Please let this be real
YES!!!!!
And which stores are no longer there????
I’m with you, Steve.
Fabulous! And if the new TJ’s could be better designed than the hopelessly cramped, awkward, split-level store on 72nd, even better!
Fingers crossed. Because the 72nd St. lines are ridiculous.
After the closing of the Food Emporium we need an affordable market up in the 90s. I hope it’s true!
This would be great for the folks in the projects and Park West Village.
@ David Morris
It was new construction David. The space has been empty for over a year.
Please be true. Please be true. Please be true.
I’m already on line.
Do you by chance know what’s going in at 90th and Broadway where the old Food Emporium was? Had my fingers crossed for TJs! It’s really tough for elderly and people who don’t have access to good internet not to have a good grocery story close by.
Yeeeessss!!!!
LOL Bob Neumann
Supposedly a gym..
I just don’t get the TJ thing.
With all the packaging used on fruits and veggies, and meats too, so much junk food, prices not great, the claustrobic design, and the long lines, the best thing about TJ is that the lines at Fairway are shorter.
What am I missing?
there must be a god…….
Relief, at last! I hope the deal goes through.
Please let it be true! Finally something useful opening.
Yes, me too. Then I could buy my pop corn before going to the movies!
@Beth,
The prices on many of my staples are much better than elsewhere. Milk, butter, eggs, cheese, nuts and nut butters are some. I agree with you about the repackaging of some produce. You can’t get everything at TJs but I think most NYers regularly go to several different stores.
@Beth ditto to this. I buy grass-fed beef for cheaper than elsewhere and wild, frozen fish for less. About 95% of the food we buy is TJ and we very rarely eat sugar or grains (though if we did, TJ has some amazingggg sweet treats!)
Totally thrilled, and happy that I called them a few months ago and suggested that location.
I like to support local stores versus corporate chain monstrosities. And TJs is corporate. Where did all my neighbors go who used to think this way too? I like how everyone’s ideals go out the window to save a buck. We used to call people like that sell outs but guess that doesn’t acknowledge the context of their social construct and self actualization so isn’t apprpriately sensitive.
It’s a new construction on the street level there.
Looking foreword to 32 street opening. I have been a devoted customer who travels from 46 street and 2nd avenue to 14 street.
Thank you for being in NY
Rochelle Fischet
Fischershelly@hotmail.com
I’d prefer a Wegmans. But TJ’s is ok. In another 10 years maybe we can finally crawl out from the dirty, cramped, expensive, unionized grocery stores that New Yorkers have come to accept as the rule here.
Its going to be just as crowded and unpleasant to shop in as the one on 72nd St. Happy for those that are happy about it, but I’m not willing to deal with the crowds for not so spectacular items.
Probably a year away, but this is great news. I don’t get why people don’t like TJ. Produce is their biggest downfall, but for frozen meals, basic staples (pasta, sauces, cereal, grains — which are really just name brands renamed), it hardly gets any cheaper. The company, compared to most, is always considered fair with their workers fairly and give them a living wage.
I still frequent Mani Market place, but this takes is awesome
L. Helfer, can you call Alamo Brewhouse and re-suggest the Metro Theater?
YAY!!!! AT LONG LAST!!!
Excellent!!! I also shop and Whole Foods and other markets, but I have Trader Joe’s staples. I am beyond ecstatic about this news.
You said it, @Crotchey Old Man. If only it would remain empty storefront forever!
I guess this is a good thing. But in this neighborhood we have a lot of very good, affordable stores. If TJ’s causes Mani Marketplace and the natural foods store on 94th to go under, I am going to lose it!!!
[I haven’t been here in a while West Sider, but it seems the nesting replies still don’t work.]
This is for Evan and other who complained about TJ’s produce.
Yes, fresh produce is probably their weakest category. You have to choose carefully. It depends on the season and what they can get. Last few visits, I’ve been picking up celery hearts which are nicer and cheaper than other stores.
Locally sourced produce is usually best. During summer, the “regional” cukes are great. Come early Winter, look for Brussels sprouts on the stalk; fresher and much cheaper than elsewhere.
I personally don’t like the piece pricing on fruits and other loose items, but sometimes — like when Fuji apples are over $1.40/lb in other stores — 69 cents each at TJ is better.
This is for all those who complained about the long lines at TJ’s 72nd, including West Sider who seems to be implying in his intro that lines there are “literally out the door.”
Yes, this store can be quite crowded and sometimes, indeed, there is a line of shoppers outside waiting to get in. Not too often though. Think of the day(s) before a major storm when hordes of New Yorkers panic about not having enough kale on hand.
When TJ management picked this location (probably more for the logistics of getting deliveries than any other consideration), they probably didn’t anticipate the popularity.
I don’t want to put too much of a damper on the hopes of many who posted their wishes that another TJ’s on the UWS will relieve the crowding at 72nd… but I honestly believe they could open THREE more stores on the UWS and each would be equally crowded as most food shoppers with common sense realize what the TJ’s experience is all about!
— to be continued