Is Trader Joe's coming to Boulder's 29th Street?

By Jonathan Shikes Wed., Jan. 18 2012 at 4:57 PM

They better widen Highway 36.

Trader Joe's could possibly, maybe, potentially be coming, finally, to Colorado -- but in Boulder, rather than Denver or its suburbs, according to a story this afternoon in the Daily Camera. Here's a piece of it:

"A source close to the situation said the California grocer is "most likely" coming to Boulder's Twenty Ninth Street," the paper reports. "The grocer filed documents on Monday registering the business name with the Colorado Secretary of State."

"According to state records, the grocer expects to begin 'transacting business or conducting activities' in Colorado as of April 1," the paper continues. "Trader Joe's spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki declined today to comment about the filing...JT Fulton, Twenty Ninth Street's property manager, also declined to comment."

The market, a California phenomenon that has since expanded to most of the rest of the country -- except for Colorado -- combines unusual and organic groceries branded under its own name with low prices, a Whole Foods sensibility and wine.

It has engendered cult-like followers nationwide and is constantly atop the list of businesses that Coloradoans would most like to see here. The nearest locations are currently in Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Rumor about the chain's arrival -- and the reasons why it hasn't yet come -- have run rampant for years.

There are even several Facebook pages dedicated to convincing the company to put a location here.

Here's a peek at the paperwork that Trader Joe's filed with the Secretary of State.

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Tags:

29th Street, Boulder, Trader Joes, Two Buck Chuck

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It's Jenn again...

You are all blasphemers! Shopping at Trader Joe's is like going to church, except with better wine, less praying and goat cheese medallions!

Scott

I'm glad TJ is coming to Colorado and I hope they open a location close to my house. I would frequent it if it were close by, but I centainly wouldn't drive out of my way to go there. The location in Camarillo, CA is the one I go to the most often, when visiting my parnets. $2 Buck Chuck is a great value which can't be beat, and the beer is inexpensive, but the selection is poor and the beer is sold at room temperature. A lot of the food is processed, the organic fruits and vegetables selection is pretty weak and the meat department is just okay. Much of the searfood is from half way around the world. The employees at the Camarillo location are extremely friendly and helpful, which is cool. The selection and quality of food at Whole Foods is much superior.

eCurmudgeon

Actually, it would be more correct to say "cheap, crappy, processed and pre-packaged food from Aldi":

http://money.cnn.com/2010/08/2...

Jon S

Oh boy, now instead of getting cheap, crappy, processed and pre-packaged food from King Soopers, I can get "natural" cheap, crappy, processed and pre-packaged food with a Trader Joe's label on it.

nope

TJ isnt Whole Foods. Not all their stuff is claimed to be natural and/or healthy

Aceranchero

You will be underwhelmed. Sure, 20 years ago it was unique and interesting but no longer. One of the key draws, beer & wine, will likely be handcuffed somewhat given our liquor laws. No doubt it will be hugely successful due to the hype…and sheer number of ex-Californians living here. God save us if In & Out ever makes it across the divide.

Jeff

Now if only Colorado would undo it's antiquated liquor laws and let Trader Joe's do its thing.

Aceranchero

"Its thing…" in Las Vegas, last weekend, included an embarrassingly poor selection of beers—Coloradans know and expect better—along with a few good wine labels mixed in amongst average-to-poor selections. You get what you pay for, and TJs is all about cheap.

Aceranchero

To belabor the point, if those same laws were relaxed for TJs you will be stunned at what Sunflower can offer based on what we've seen in New Mexico. Excellent. (And better, fresher offerings to go along with.)

Mantonat

There are no laws that will prevent a Trader Joe's from selling alcohol. The law will only prevent more than one Trader Joe's from selling alcohol.

Yet another example of shit people think is cool because it's somewhere else. See also: In n Out Burger.

Sbuckyl

You are absolutely correct Mantonat.

I used to frequent Trader Joes when I lived in Seattle. Then again I used to eat nothing but processed crap back then too. It's a really good place for that. If you like real food though you would be better off going to Safeway.

Plus I used to know absolutely nothing about wine, so the Two buck Chuck (it was actually 3 buck chuck there) was wonderful too. I now would much prefer paying 5 bucks more for a decent bottle of Chilean Carmenere.

But actually any buck Chuck is AWFUL, as is eating a crap food diet.

eCurmudgeon

Let's see. In recent news we've been told of: (1) a sushi chain from Omaha (!) coming to Denver, and (2) a California-based grocery chain possibly coming to Boulder.

Really? Is this the best Colorado can do these days?