Renton Really, Really Wants A Trader Joe's: Survey

RENTON, WA - On Wednesday, Patch.com went on Facebook and asked Renton residents what business that's not already here should come to town. You sent us dozens of suggestions, from a roller-skating rink to a Bartell (surprisingly, only one request for a Dick's Drive-in). But the overwhelming desire was for a Trader Joe's, the quirky specialty grocery store known for its fun, low-priced products.

"Trader Joe's please (the Landing would be an awesome location!)," wrote Traci Hanna.

So, how would Renton go about getting a Trader Joe's? The short answer is: no one really knows.

The company doesn't really say how or why it picks a location. Some speculate that Trader Joe's likes to open stores near distribution centers. That's good news, because we definitely have a distribution center somewhere nearby (although, we don't know the exact location). At the same time, there are a number of Trader Joe's pretty close to Renton including in Burien, Kent, and Seattle.

There's an ongoing movement to bring a Trader Joe's to the Rainier Beach neighborhood in Seattle, which is very close to Renton, although not a very convenient location for people who live in the highlands.

It's also possible that TJ's opens locations based on interest. The company's website features a page where you can request a store for your city. Maybe with enough entries Renton will one day get a coveted Trader Joe's?

In the mean time, if you're looking for an alternative to Fred Meyer or Safeway, check out Granola's - it's a natural foods market along Airport Way north of downtown.

Image via Creative Commons