Let's spam Trader Joe's with requests for a store here!
 

Just click on the link to go to Trader Joe's "Request a Store" form. The more they receive, the more likely they will consider us. They just put their new one for this year in Florida in Clearwater. Still too far away.

Request a Trader Joe's

At the risk of being "that guy", I don't think 'spam' is the word you're looking for.

But it certainly couldn't hurt to bury/flood/overwhelm/inundate/swamp them with requests. It might have a positive effect on the probability of success.

I am really skeptical about the success of getting a store to build here because of a lot of requests.

I think they pay good money for market studies and stuff like that.

And they are capitalists too.

They should just ask a financially secure Villager......

I think that is what I just scoffed at.

Go for it. I have been watching this for almost twenty years. I still haven't ever been in a Trader Joes and I will be 85 in a couple of weeks.

Can't hurt, but it is probable that Trader Joe's locates their stores based more on solid research rather than on a letter-writing campaign.

I actually did that a few months ago - probably all in vain

My guess is the reason TJs would not be on your radar, would be food choices. Probably Kosher, Organic, Locally sourced, or speciality items, are not important.
They have excellent cheese from around the world, their brined turkeys at holidays are as good as any southern mama could serve.

You will not find food, such as blocks of processed cheese. Their bakery items don’t have additives or preservatives, or any of their other items on the shelves.

Some their whole life have only eaten processed food, usually passed down from parent to children.
Then there are many who have their entire life never been subjected to processed food, and ensure they don’t have to worry about the need to read labels at TJ’s. Driving to a TJ’s instead of shopping in a 3x5 area in any Publix or Winn Dixie.

There is a strong possibility of an Ocala site, which is definitely closer than driving to Gainesville. That employees mention about 20% of their clients are from Ocala and TV

Exactly right. The VIllages at this point, doesn't meet their demographic profile, for a number of reasons.

... maybe 5-10 years from now, but don't hold your breathe.

Look up definition of spam.

No matter how many people make a request it won’t happen. TJ’s has already looked at the area and made a business decision it’s not profitable.

I concur. Too many Villagers are happy to eat crap.

It always amazes me how people want cheap supermarkets, and do not connect to the fact that these ingredients are cheaper, and therefore have a lot less quality- more toxic ingredients more processed ingredients that translates into ruining your health.

Thank you! I think it's a great idea. Just because it’s been mentioned previously doesn’t necessarily mean don’t try again.
As in any new ideas, there will always be naysayers….and in this forum…there’s plenty of them. It’s hard to ignore them…its just a fact.
Thanks for the suggestion!!… I did just what you suggested.

Just what we need. Another overpriced, high brow store. 30 different varieties of tofu. Who has money left over to afford that if they even wanted it?

Why? Not needed.

Only 20%, not good at all.

Sounds like you’ve never been to one. We shopped at TJs weekly in our former state because it was the opposite of that.

I read a couple days ago that they were considering either Ocala or The Villages for their next location, and chose The Villages. Maybe it’s false info, so I won’t hold my breath, but a girl can hope. We currently shop at the one in Dr. Phillips in combo with a Disney trip, which is only 3-4x annually. Would love to shop TJs weekly like in our former life.

Trader Joe’s typical customer is between 25 and 44 (those born before 1965 make up 30% of their customer base.)
Average income is around 90,000

Not really overpriced.

They made 2 Buck Chuck famous.

You are confusing TJ’s with Whole food, or a vegan store. Yes TJ’s does have 3-5 Tofu products. But anyone who uses tofu in a dish, usually buys base, and adds what spices they want.

Prices on many items are equal or less than shopping at Publix or WinnDixie. Big difference for shoppers, no Additives or Preservatives.

Bonus one doesn’t have to shop at stores that you don’t have the financial ability to do so.

I've never shopped at a Trader Joe's, though I've heard a lot of good things about them, largely from people who also patronize Aldi. Since both Aldi and Trader Joe's have the same parentage, so to speak, then I'm assuming that they're run similarly. Overall Aldi prices are not because of cheaper ingredients or a plethora of chemicals in their products, but because the stores run FAR more efficiently. Better-trained (and paid) workers, concentrate on the essentials (no bagging, shopping cart "service" that is pretty much self-serve, etc.), quick turnover of products, and a limit on the number of products sold (the average Aldi sells about 1,400 products while the average supermarket sells about 40,000) makes stocking far easier and quicker. I've rarely seen an Aldi with more than four workers on at a time. Publix? Probably 20 or more on average. Publix probably has huge overhead compared to Publix. That extra overhead translates into higher prices.

If Trader Joe's approach is similar, then I'd have no basis to believe that their products are any less healthy than, say, Publix. And I'd probably pay a heck of a lot less.

Is your comment based on previously shopping at Trader Joe’s? I used to shop at TJ’s weekly, and my grocery bill was far less than shopping at major grocery chains. Better and healthier food, with a good variety of choices.

You mention we don’t need another “overpriced, high brow store”. What are these other stores here in The Villages that you reference?

TJ’s has employees scurrying about like ants. And they bag your groceries. Of course, most of them smell like a very earthy cologne (weed).

Obviously written by someone who has never set foot inside of a Trader Joe’s. Not expensive, not anywhere near anything you wrote.

Trader Joe's
 

I was a resident of Sarasota, shoppers paradise.. We all were very excited when Costco opened there. Shortly afterwards, Trader Joe's came in. I read that Costco will be building here in 2025. I'm hoping that Trader Joes will follow after Costco is open. It's time The Villages became a retail empire!

Trader Joe's
 

Done-- THANKS!

Villagers have been trying to get a Trader Joe's here for many years. About 10 years ago, Villagers presented Trader Joe's with a petition signed with over 6,000 signatures. They were rebuffed and told, "We will never open a Trader Joe's in The Villages."

I suspect that there was either a falling out with the Morse family or that the rent for a location is a percentage of your sales.

YOU FORGET TV is growing leaps and bounds eventually it will get here

Almost all Commercial Lease have a % of sales condition. Makes sense for both parties.

Probably under water in Clearwater IMO that was bad choice for location unless the built it 15 feet above sea level.

DONE! I submitted a heartfelt plea to Trader Joe's to build one at least NEAR TV.
 

DONE! I submitted a heartfelt plea to Trader Joe's to build one at least NEAR the Villages, if not IN the Villages. I've heard that getting commercial property here can be 'difficult'! So, I would gladly accept NEAR, in order to not have to make the HOUR + drives to Orlando or Gainesville.

If you are a TJ's fan, please submit one, too! (even if you have submitted one before!)

Let's go with NEAR the Villages and cut out the Morse bureaucracy! And 6 years is a LONG time ago. Demographic here has change 6Xs over! Many people are moving here from cities, towns, places that HAD a Trader Joe's and need it back!

Not only are their prices low but they have a huge variety of organic products and unique items that aren't sold elsewhere. Of course they also have a good selection of the comfort foods that most people crave.

If a Trader Joes comes to TV it will be as busy Aldi is especially if they build it between Brownwood and the turnpike. It has a cult following just as passionate if not more than that of Costco.

TJ's sells plenty of "Crap" too that will clog your arteries and promote cancer and diabetes just like Walmart, Aldi's and Publix.

Absolutely. I’m in CA visiting my son. They have tons of TJs Love it. One would think since Aldi is a sister company.
They would convert a Winn Dixie to TJ. Please!!!!

Trader Joe's and Aldi's are completely unrelated grocery chains in the USA.

For the folks tilting at windmills, here is TJ's customer profile and The Villages is not close.

Probably right but given enough requests they may revisit their past market research to see if the population density and demographics have changed

I really like TJ's, but I really dislike Aldi's. You are incorrect in your assumption that they are alike. They are not alike at all. Except both are small.

Since you admit you have never shopped at one or tried their wares, you may consider withholding your assumptions until you do. After which you may or may not like them but truth be told there are many who do.

It's not always the first trip there that hooks people. It's trying some of their stuff and developing a real preference for an item or two. Then you start trying other stuff there and realizing how much of it really is good and how reasonably priced it is. That's how you develop the fan base they have.

Oh- Trader Joe's and Aldi's are sibling companies, but they are not one owned by the other. It's a myth like the one about McDonald's owning Chipotle. Trader Joes is owned by the owner Aldi Nord. But the Aldi stores you see in the US are owned by Aldi Süd. The two are completely separate companies. Two brothers started a grocery chain in Germany. They split the chain when one wanted to carry cigarettes and the other did not. They bifurcated into two separate chains. It's kinda like Puma and Adidas. Two brothers who each started their own brand.

Here, this might help 'splain it: The Connection Between Trader Joe's And Aldi

Back where I used to live I shopped once a month, (I ate their cereal exclusively for a number of years) and I miss some of the things that TJ’s has that nobody else carries.

And as far as them being overpriced, that is usually said by people that have never been there.

TJ’s, TJ’s, TJ’s!!

That was easy to send them a message. It won't hurt to ask.

The Villages does not meet their demographic profile for location.
They want the 30 - 50 group

Publix is overpriced and their meat department is abysmal. I am also completely conditioned to self check out. It annoys me that they don't have it at the Publix store near me.

I would like a Trader Joe's. I've never shopped there before but I know people who have and trust their judgment.

Right now it's Walmart and Costco in Claremont for me. Can't wait till we get our Costco!