Bring Trader Joe's to Downtown Florence

quote:

Originally posted by FloTownDown08:

quote:

Originally posted by bama in chi-town:

Emerald Coast was an excellent restaraunt but did not work because it was not Dale's or George's. Even a place that serves $5 burgers(Backyard Burger) did not work. I am not saying that there are no people in the Shoals that would like a TJ. There just are not enough to support it IMO. I would love to be proven wrong though.

Maybe it was not the atmosphere, but rather the products of the places you have mentioned above.
There was nothing different or eclectic about Emerald Coast, if you wanted a steak, go to Dale's or George's, you wanted seafood, Cajuns has you covered, you want a truly GOOD $5.00 hamburger, Applebee's, Ruby Tuesdays or Chili's can fix you right up.

quote:

Originally posted by bama in chi-town:


Now don't get me wrong I love Cajun's. That along with Ricatonni's are the 2 places I miss. However, I do not think that Cajun's and Emerald Coast competed for the same business. But that's neither here nor there.

Maybe a TJ would work in Flo maybe it wouldn't. But, I really think this is kind of a moot point because I do not see Flo getting a TJ before Nashville, Huntsville, or B'ham does. Also, if Flo was to get a Publix that carries higher end food then it would be really hard for a TJ to work.

quote:

Originally posted by FloTownDown08:
Okay. So not everyone that lives in The Shoals Area was raised in a mobile home, out in the sticks!!

I for one, would frequent a Trader Joe's, or anything else for that matter, that would offer an eclectic variety of products that we are unaccustomed to.

Now it's a fact, there have been several chain grocery stores that have come & gone, but they were all the same old thing, that all of the others offered, nothing special.

It just baffles me to see so many "products" of The Shoals, move a town or two over, and speak of the Shoals as if they are living in NYC or something.

How can anyone be so sure that a Trader Joe's wouldn't be a successful hit, when we have never been offered anything like it before?

quote:

Originally posted by T S C:
[QUOTE]
Since your post sounds like it could be addressed to me, I'll reply back to it. I was born right outside of NYC in Teaneck, NJ. And I went back every year, twice a year until I was 12 years old. Then I only went back every other year until I was 18. When we moved to AL we lived in a trailer in the sticks. A single wide on County Road 8 in Greenhill. As an adult I lived in a trailer or two, also. Then I graduated from college, worked in the Shoals, then moved to Atlanta. And now I'm in Huntsville.

That being said - the economy of the Shoals is not robust enough to support a Trader Joe's. There are not enough people in the Shoals area that will buy all of their groceries at a store that will charge significantly more than Wal-Mart and Big Star. There are not enough people in the Shoals to buy the organic, vegetarian, vegan, and expensive items that they carry. There are too many people in the Shoals who live in trailers out in the sticks and just barely get by each week. The ones who can afford the more expensive products travel to Huntsville, Birmingham, Nashville, or buy them via catalogs or online. The small number of people who would spend a lot of money, and the larger number of people who would spend a little money, are not enough to keep a Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, or Fresh Market in business. Which is why there isn't one in the area. It isn't a personal slight against the people of the Shoals. It is an economic observation.

quote:

Originally posted by FloTownDown08:
Hold your horses TSC!
How was I to know your life story?
Believe me when I say, I was NOT referring to you.
Sorry you took that so personal, I was only using my words as an example of the stereotyping that The Shoals Area continuously gets painted with.

quote:

Originally posted by T S C:
Good point Marian. TJ's will open right there on Court Street between Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton. Right across the street from Armani Exchange.

quote:

Originally posted by T S C:
Good point Marian. TJ's will open right there on Court Street between Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton. Right across the street from Armani Exchange.

quote:

Originally posted by T S C:
Good point Marian. TJ's will open right there on Court Street between Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton. Right across the street from Armani Exchange.

quote:

Originally posted by zippadeedoodah:

If you ever try TJ's, you'll find out that it is NOT an expensive, high-end store. A lot of stuff there is much less expensive than some of our major grocery retailers (Albertson's, Vons, and Ralph's, out here) and on a par with the base commissary.