Cobble/Boerum Hill Rumors: Trader Joe's & McD's
It’s a big news day in the food department for Cobble and Boerum Hill. This morning, The Brooklyn Eagle broke the news (well, it’s still technically a rumor) that Trader Joe’s will be moving into the Independence Bank building at Atlantic on Court. No sooner had we read that than a tipster passed on word…
It’s a big news day in the food department for Cobble and Boerum Hill. This morning, The Brooklyn Eagle broke the news (well, it’s still technically a rumor) that Trader Joe’s will be moving into the Independence Bank building at Atlantic on Court. No sooner had we read that than a tipster passed on word from a “fairly reliable neighborhood source” that the the Army Navy and Realty storefronts at Smith and Wyckoff (GMAP) were going to be taken over by McDonald’s. “If this is true, then, well, it f—ing sucks,” groused our man on the inside. Anyone else heard this?
Trader Joe’s Coming to Old Independence Bank [Brooklyn Eagle] GMAP
To 9:50: TJ’s isn’t expensive! That is one of the greatest things about it.
I just moved here from Chicago, and I can’t tell you how difficult it has been without Trader Joe’s close by. Yes, they are corporate, but of the more benevolent type. They sell tons of things nobody else does and they sell nearly all of it for less than anybody else can. They really aren’t direct competition to other grocers since they don’t carry everything, but I can tell you that walking out of the grocery store with four bags of food for less than $60 is amazing. That $60 would will buy you two bags at Whole Paycheck.
As for Two Buck Chuck, really it’s three bucks, and I am certain they will do as they did in Union Sq and open a separate store front for the dirt cheap (yet tasty) wine department.
So to all of you out there crapping all over the idea of a Trader Joes, you just have to experience it. (Yes I have been to the one in Union Sq, but will admit it is a bit too chaotic for my taste.)
I agree that it’s great to have more food-shopping options in the nabe, but I’m still mystified about why so many people get so excited about Trader Joe’s. It’s not a comprehensive grocery store, there’s no produce to speak of, and 2-buck Chuck is crap. It’s a party store that mainly sells cryovac-ed lobster tails and frozen canapes, no?
This is 9:50 again – just wanted to add that I imagine low-income folks feel that stores like TJ are beyond their budget, and that’s why TJ should try to reach out to everyone in the nabe… help people realize that good, healthy food does not always cost more! 🙂
I’ve heard 5 Guys is supposed to be phenomenal… a friend of mine was dropping me off at the airport in DC for a flight back to NYC, and he said, “by the way if you see a five gu-” and before he could even finish the sentence, i said “five guys burgers and fries?” so excited to hear a DC local raving about the place. (They’re a small family operated DC chain, I believe). Hopefully like In-and-Out Burger.
As for McDonald’s, it’s so depressing how well those McD’s guys know the their target demographic and the local real estate market – “let’s see, we have an opening, one block from the projects…bingo.” Even more depressing is that Trader Joes is NOT more expensive than regular groceries stores, certainly not for things like milk, eggs, juice, etc. (the same cannot be said for Whole Foods and Fairway). TJ should try to reach out to all shoppers and not just yuppies such as myself (and most everyone else here).
I’m actually excited about TJ. The keyfood on Montague is fine and I patronize it all the time but I still shop at Sahadis, atlantic produce store, fish tales, staubitzs and d’amico’s all the time. Just because TJ is there, I don’t think I would shop at the other places less since I currently go to TJ in NJ every other weekend when I visit family. I stock up on their brands like their salsa, dried fruit and frozen mexican which none of the other places sell. Also TJ is not known for their produce (at least I’ve never bought it).
The McDs rumor is just sad. I don’t even consider that food. I heard the reason why burger king didn’t survive on montague was due the fact that the locals didn’t support it. 5 Guys Burgers will fair better as long as the quality is there.
The Met Food at Smith & Baltic is not bad. I used to live across the street from it, and now that I’ve moved to Clinton Hill I still go back there weekly. I’ve yet to find another store in Brooklyn (or Manhattan) with the same balance of selection, OK produce, and reasonable prices.
to 5:17
I think the opposite sadly enough…when I first moved in, the Key Food seemed nice to me. And then I decided I didn’t want rotten fruit, nasty meat, and no choices in frozen food. I don’t know if Trader Joe’s will bring much better or not, but competition is never bad, so let’s see what happens.
And I fail to see what’s so bad about McD’s. There’s one three blocks from my hole on State, and it does what it intends to do fine – feed me on the *relatively* cheap. I’m all for it.
so that block will have McD’s, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins, and a Domino’s (well right across the street.) And yes, the Gowanus Houses residents will keep them all going strong.
I guess if it has to happen I prefer them all clustered together on one block. This makes it easier to just pass that area and head to local places elsewhere.
I have to say, I used to poo-poo the Key Food on Atlantic and Clinton, but lately it’s grown on me. Their produce dept. leaves MUCH to be desired, but the rest of the store, for a small supermarket, stocks a decent selection of organic and “upscale”-brand packaged products and meats. And their rotisserie chickens are excellent (better than Fairway!)…