Trader Joe's backs out of NE Portland store

[Ptarmigan]

Trader Joe's backs out of NE Portland store
http://www.kgw.com/news/Trader-Joes-back-out-of-controversial-Portland-development-243389941.html

PORTLAND – Trader Joe’s backed out of a development plan for Northeast Portland Monday after the project was widely criticized as gentrification.

Monday, Trader Joe's announced to the City of Portland and California-based developer Majestic Realty Co. that it would no longer be a part of an $8 million retail development planned for a long-dormant corner at Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Alberta Street.

The city agreed to sell the land, worth between $2.5 and 2.7 million, for only $500,000. The city said the discounted price was needed to get the development in the area jump-started. Trader Joe's was to be the anchor tenant. The plan would have included two buildings, four to six retail stalls and 100 parking spaces.

Really? It would give jobs to people and expose them to good food. No?

"We have, from day one, insisted that low-income housing be a part of the development," said Steven Gilliam with PAALF. "This was about the displacement of our people from inner Northeast Portland."

How is it displacement? 

[Chris_]

How is it displacement? 

Black people don't shop at Trader Joe's, obviously.

[freedumb2003b]

Black people don't shop at Trader Joe's, obviously.

:whatever:

Nigga don' wan' no he'p, nigga don' get no he'p! (In every single print in the last 20+ years, this has chaned to "Sucka don'..."  But it was nigga in the original!)
 

[seahorse513]

I am not a big fan of Trader Joe's, My money goes to Market Basket

[Chris_]

Nigga don' wan' no he'p, nigga don' get no he'p! (In every single print in the last 20+ years, this has chaned to "Sucka don'..."  But it was nigga in the original!)
 

I never noticed that.  I must have been subjected to the edited version my entire life.

[Chris_]

I am not a big fan of Trader Joe's, My money goes to Market Basket

No, but business is business.  If the "leaders" in the NAACP want to chase away opportunity, they shouldn't come crying when "their community" is still living in public housing and collecting food stamps because that business was "too white".

[seahorse513]

No, but business is business.  If the "leaders" in the NAACP want to chase away opportunity, they shouldn't come crying when "their community" is still living in public housing and collecting food stamps because that business was "too white".

I agree with putting a business there instead of low income housing. I would think low income would cause the residences in the community to lose property value. They have to think of an industry that will thrive in that community. If the community is below the average, Trader Joe's wouldn't survive, regardless of race, or ethnicity. Trader Joe's is a high end grocery store that cater to people who are health conscience.

[Ralph Wiggum]

I agree with putting a business there instead of low income housing. I would think low income would cause the residences in the community to lose property value. They have to think of an industry that will thrive in that community. If the community is below the average, Trader Joe's wouldn't survive, regardless of race, or ethnicity. Trader Joe's is a high end grocery store that cater to people who are health conscience.

Trader Joe's isn't all that expensive in comparison to say Whole Foods.  A lot of the staple items (i.e. non-organic) are similarly priced as your local grocery store.

[Dori]

Trader Joe's isn't all that expensive in comparison to say Whole Foods.  A lot of the staple items (i.e. non-organic) are similarly priced as your local grocery store.

Trader Joe's used to sell two-buck chuck.   

[Ralph Wiggum]

Trader Joe's used to sell two-buck chuck.   

And now it is three-buck Chuck.  Damn you Obama!!! 

[FlaGator]

Perhaps the NAACP can throw up a couple of crack houses and a new meth lab. That should help revive the neighborhood. Much better than a nasty old Trader Joes

[JakeStyle]

I like Trader Joe's prices, and they have some really good prepared frozen stuff, but the store near my house is always overrun with skinny jeans wearing, obnoxious hipsters.  I stopped shopping there because of it.

[freedumb2003b]

Perhaps the NAACP can throw up a couple of crack houses and a new meth lab. That should help revive the neighborhood. Much better than a nasty old Trader Joes

Yep -- the opposite of "gentrification" is "ghettoization."

[Celtic Rose]

Trader Joe's isn't all that expensive in comparison to say Whole Foods.  A lot of the staple items (i.e. non-organic) are similarly priced as your local grocery store.

Yep, I wish I had a Trader Joe's closer to me now.  When I lived close to one I did most of my grocery shopping there and didn't pay an outrageous amount for good food.  Their meat can be a bit pricy, but everything else is very reasonably priced.  Their produce quality can be hit or miss depending on the store, but the produce is never very expensive. 

One of the biggest issues that I hear about in regards in inner city living and it's effect on health is the lack of good food available locally.  If they consider a grocery store "gentrification" then I guess that explains the issue. 

[thundley4]

One of the biggest issues that I hear about in regards in inner city living and it's effect on health is the lack of good food available locally.  If they consider a grocery store "gentrification" then I guess that explains the issue. 

If they can't buy it at the gas/convenience store where they buy cigars one at a time then they don't need it.