Business & Tech

Trader Joe's Not Opening In Gig Harbor Anytime Soon

Looks like Gig Harbor shoppers will have to continue driving across the Narrows Bridge to visit the closest store.

Looks like Gig Harbor-area residents will have to keep traveling and paying a bridge toll to reach the closest .

On Wednesday, Gig Harbor Patch obtained an April 26 letter that Douglas Yokomizo, the California-based chain of specialty grocery store's vice president for real estate, sent to Gig Harbor Mayor Chuck Hunter.

Yokomizo wrote that although the company is fortunate to have customers and communities that want a Trader Joe's store, "we don't have the ability to open stores in every community that wants us."

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Here's his letter in full:

"Dear Mr. Hunter:

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Thank you for your letter of February 10. I appreciate the information you provided about Gig Harbor. We're fortunate to have many customers and admirers who want us to open stores in their communities. Given our moderate expansion plan (15-20 stores per year spread throughout the states west of Chicago), however, we don't have the ability to open stores in every community that wants us.

Each year we review the potential for new stores and develop a real estate plan for the following two years. A Gig Harbor store isn't in our plans at this time. Thanks again for your input.

Β 

Very Truly Yours,

Douglas Yokomizo

Vice President Real Estate"

Β 

The letter is disappointing for Trader Joe's fans in Gig Harbor, who even started a Facebook pageΒ to help lure the store across the Narrows.

"For years people in Gig Harbor have been hoping Trader Joe's would locate here," the website site states. "Let's make it happen with thousands of Facebook 'friends,' petitions, blogs, etc."

In February, Hunter sent a packet of information to Trader Joe's that illustrated how interested the city - and the Gig Harbor community overall - is in getting its own location.

Currently, Gig Harbor and other South Sound residents must drive to University Place for the closest Trader Joe's. According to its website, half of its eight locations are in Seattle. It also has stores in Bellevue, Burien, Federal Way and UP.

There's obviously interest from Gig Harbor Trader Joe's fans, but it's unclear whether that community offers the right location or concentration of people, at least in the chain store's eyes.

Also, it's unclear how a Gig Harbor location would affect business at the Trader Joe's at Green Firs. When it opened, the store served as a model for how University Place could attract out-of-town shoppers despite not being directly located off of a highway.

Even today, shoppers travel miles to get their share of unique, well-priced wine, cheese and other Trader Joe's goods, all in UP. That's exposure and revenue for a property heavy community looking to build its commercial tax base.

But judging by Yokomizo's letter, University Place won't have to worry about a Gig Harbor location. At least not until Trader Joe's decides the time is right to locate west of the Tacoma Narrows.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from University Place