New Trader Joe's on Diversey

Crain's reports this morning that the 600 block of Diversey--where Roundy's was interested in putting a store, and then became uninterested in putting a store--will see a new Trader Joe's. The new TJ will not, however, go into the space occupied by the now-vacant Pier One and Barnes & Noble stores, as the Roundy's was to have done. Instead it will be built just to the west of those stores.

They're aiming for a late 2010 opening. Great to see new construction projects and new businesses moving forward in this economy. And a Trader Joe's will be very welcome here, I think.

Oy. As if there isn't enough traffic congestion there.

riddlemay wrote:Crain's reports this morning that the 600 block of Diversey--where Roundy's was interested in putting a store, and then became uninterested in putting a store--will see a new Trader Joe's. The new TJ will not, however, go into the space occupied by the now-vacant Pier One and Barnes & Noble stores, as the Roundy's was to have done. Instead it will be built just to the west of those stores.

They're aiming for a late 2010 opening. Great to see new construction projects and new businesses moving forward in this economy. And a Trader Joe's will be very welcome here, I think.

Does that mean tha they are building over one of the few parking lots in the area? Nice move!

According to the article, the building will include parking:

Mr. Latsko says his venture with M Development is planning a new building at 671 W. Diversey that would be about 37,800 square feet, with 112 parking spaces on the second level and rooftop.

stevez wrote:Does that mean that they are building over one of the few parking lots in the area? Nice move!

I'm not sure whether the address of "671 W. Diversey" is the current surface parking lot on the corner (Diversey and Orchard) or not. It's my guess that it is. Even if so, there'll be a net gain of parking spaces, since that lot can't hold more than twenty cars, I'm thinking, and the new TJ development will have spaces for 112.

Despite the additional congestion it will no doubt bring, this TJ feels like a net plus for the neighborhood. I can't tell you why it feels to me like a TJ will get more "on foot" customers and fewer "in car" customers than a Roundy's would have, but it does feel that way to me. So I expect the additional congestion will feel more incremental than exponential.

I can't think of any area on the northside that isn't congested. I don't think the answer is to restrict new businesses.

Darren72 wrote:I can't think of any area on the northside that isn't congested. I don't think the answer is to restrict new businesses.

Totally agree--especially in a time like this. That said, I'm much happier with the relatively modest Trader Joe's development than I was with the disproportionate-for-the-neighborhood (IMO) proposed Roundy's development.

Wow, this will be an absolute gold mine.

Inside sources informed me that a TJs will not be opening up on Diversey... but rather the Lincoln/Grace location will be expanded. The connecting CB2 will be leaving their current space sometime next year and TJs will be taking over a portion of the store space to expand a bit.

Damn.

lonbeehold wrote yesterday, 4/16, in another thread:

Most recently, I've read that a Trader Joe's is going in the former Pier One/B & N space on Diversey.

How recently is this "most recently," lonbeehold? Is it more recent than foodie1's 3/24 report that Trader Joe's isn't going on to that block of Diversey? I hope your report is based on post-3/24 info, because I hope to see this development happen.

This CBS 2 Chicago article about Roundy's is still reporting that the Clark/Diversey Trader Joe's is a go:

"Last year, there was discussion of construction of a Roundy's store at Diversey Parkway and Orchard Street, but a Trader Joe's will instead be erected at that location. It will be constructed next to the vacant former Pier 1 and Barnes and Noble stores, Crain's Chicago Business reported." However, I'm assuming that the Crain's Chicago Business report they're citing is the same 3/18 one mentioned earlier in this thread.

Incidentally, "[Roundy's] has agreed to open groceries in three Chicago locations: downtown in the Lakeshore East development, at 39th and State streets and at 1515 N. Halsted St. on the former site of the New City YMCA."

I really wish they would put a Trader Joe's somewhere further north. Why not Andersonville, Uptown, Lincoln Square, or even Evanston or Skokie? It's like a Trader Joe's black hole up here.