Residents Ask Trader Joe's To Build In Bridgewater-Raritan Area

BRIDGEWATER/RARITAN, NJ — Township residents are rallying together to petition Trader Joe's to open a location in the Bridgewater-Raritan area following the closure of two long standing businesses.

Stop & Shop located off Route 206 in Raritan is officially closing its doors on Thursday leaving the Raritan Mall without an anchor store.

La Catena, a long-standing family Italian restaurant on Route 22 in Bridgewater, also closed its doors this month.

Residents commented on Patch's social media pages and also sent emails to Patch saying they are requesting Trader Joe's come to the Bridgewater-Raritan area.

"This is what people are sending: Dear TJ's: I'm sure you received so many location requests a day but please know that the Bridgewater-Raritan area is the HUB of Somerset County! We house some of the 'only in NJ' locations to some major restaurants etc. Why not add TJ's??? You would get traffic from Route 78, 287, 202, 206 and 22! Such an easy location and guaranteed success! Read more on why TJ's would be a great anchor store at a location here: https://patch.com/.../raritan-stop-shop-close-thursday..." Stacey Katz Friedlander posted.

"A very big email campaign" created by residents has been sent to Trader Joe's requesting their presence in town.

"Trader Joe's does takes requests for new locations. If readers contact them that would be helpful," said Dr. Laura DeMarzo. "Lets put the pressure on!"

Raritan Mayor Charles McMullin had reached out to Trader Joe's to see if they would be interested in taking over location on Route 206. But Trader Joe's did not respond to McMullin.

Trader Joe's also did not immediately respond to Patch.

Readers can request a Trader Joe's in their town by clicking here.

(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images News/Getty Images)

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