Trader Joe's?

Does anyone know the latest on Trader Joe's? Are they coming to Louisville?

I heard that they were looking at a property - don't know where - but when the seller found out it was for Trader Joe's, they jacked up the price. Trader Joe's people walked away and are looking for a new location.

With all the closed Winn Dixies around, they have plenty of places unless they need more.

Joe C

Here are a couple of comments I made on the "All About Louisville" page some time back:

http://www.wineloverspage.com/forum/hot ... rader+joes

Well that would be great if it actually happens...we've also been hearing Nordstrom's was coming for 6 years..

I'll keep my fingers crossed on both.

Well that would be great if it actually happens...we've also been hearing Nordstrom's was coming for 6 years..

I'll keep my fingers crossed on both.

The Nordstrom thing was a short-lived situation when they had plans to open a store here in 1999 or 2000. They announced about that time that they were truncating their national expansion plans due to poor markets. It hasn't been a possibility for some years, so any rumors to the contrary are just that - rumors, not reality.

One of the 'special' areas for Trader Joe's is selling wine in the store. Can't do it here in Kentucky. There's a reason that sign is up when you come down I-65 into Louisville... Welcome To Kentucky, Set Your Watch Back 50 Years. Unless and until - beginning holding breath now - the legislature changes the law and allows wine sales the chances of a Trader Joes in Louisville are two, slim and none - just keeping holding your breath.

Richard

One of the 'special' areas for Trader Joe's is selling wine in the store. Can't do it here in Kentucky. There's a reason that sign is up when you come down I-65 into Louisville... Welcome To Kentucky, Set Your Watch Back 50 Years. Unless and until - beginning holding breath now - the legislature changes the law and allows wine sales the chances of a Trader Joes in Louisville are two, slim and none - just keeping holding your breath.

Richard

I do know of at least one TJ store with no wine store involved, of course it is in NYC so that may make up for the lack of wine sales.
I would think they could do the same thing as Whole Foods and put in a wine shop as a separate space in the same building.

One of the 'special' areas for Trader Joe's is selling wine in the store. Can't do it here in Kentucky. There's a reason that sign is up when you come down I-65 into Louisville... Welcome To Kentucky, Set Your Watch Back 50 Years. Unless and until - beginning holding breath now - the legislature changes the law and allows wine sales the chances of a Trader Joes in Louisville are two, slim and none - just keeping holding your breath.

Richard

I don't see where this is an issue, some other local stores Whole Foods, Wal-Mart, etc. have gotten around it by putting the wines in a separate section that has its own entrance. If Trader Joe's doesn't come here it won't either be because of the competition (Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Wild Oats, and others) or because of our wonderful local political climate. While Mayor Abramson talked a big story about encouraging business to move here I'm not sure his actions follow his words.

The Kentucky wine law for grocery stores has two parts: first, the one previously mentioned: having to have a separate store with a separate entrance. While

I would think they could do the same thing as Whole Foods and put in a wine shop as a separate space in the same building.

sounds like a simple solution, it costs alot more as you have to have separate additional staff for the wine store along with separate registers, inventory receiving, etc. We looked into doing it at our store before we opened and it was very expensive to do. Not to mention how many customers would have spontaneously bought wine if it's with the cheese or pasta, but don't want make a trip into the separate wine store and have to check out again. (Of course, liquor stores can carry groceries with no separate requirement a la Liquor Barn, explain THAT logic to me...)

The other issue is location: Kentucky statute does not allow another liquor license within 700 feet of an existing package store. (My understanding is this is currently in the appeals process). This severely limits available locations as many locations have a nearby Walgreens/CVS/Walmart that has some liquor and therefore is ineligible. Hopefully this will change soon.

Deb

The other issue is location: Kentucky statute does not allow another liquor license within 700 feet of an existing package store. (My understanding is this is currently in the appeals process). This severely limits available locations as many locations have a nearby Walgreens/CVS/Walmart that has some liquor and therefore is ineligible. Hopefully this will change soon.

Deb

I thought those retailers only sold beer. Is that the issue here? If so, I would think the proximity of convenience stores would also be an issue.

TP,

Lots of these sell wine, beer and hard liquor ( the CVS at Landis Lakes sells all three which was the other reason we didn't have wine - we were like 20 feet too close to them to get a license).

Beer is not the problem, you can do that in the same store as "groceries" (like the convenience stores) - as long as you have a beer license. Wine and hard liquor require the same packaged goods license and have the restrictions.

Deb

It seems like every state has it's own draconian laws when it comes to liquor sales. I remember as a teen we lived in Kansas for a short while where you had to but a "bottle" to have a drink in any bar. I believe they gave you a punch card good for 25 shots or some such. My father who opened restaurants around the country for a hotel chain thought it was the stupidest law he'd ever heard of.
And even in "liberal" NYC it's only been in the last few years you could use charge cards at liquor stores and only just two years ago they were allowed to open on Sundays, although they had to close another day of the week- they still aren't allowed 7 days of alcohol sales.
It's all very baffleing.

[Robin Garr]

And even in "liberal" NYC it's only been in the last few years you could use charge cards at liquor stores and only just two years ago they were allowed to open on Sundays, although they had to close another day of the week- they still aren't allowed 7 days of alcohol sales.
It's all very baffleing.

It's been even worse within recent memory. For many years, NYC liquor shops couldn't sell ANYTHING but booze. No food, no accessories, no books, not even a corkscrew.

It's worth remembering that "liberal" NYC is immediately surrounded by acres of conservative suburbanites, and beyond that downstate belt, there are an awful lot of places in the Empire State where you'll find hillbillies who'd feel right at home in Kentucky's hollers ... and some of them are in the state Legislature.

I thought those retailers only sold beer. Is that the issue here? If so, I would think the proximity of convenience stores would also be an issue.

Very interesting, Deb. I thought CVS and Walgreen had gotten out of the liquor business (leaving only RiteAidl locally, in my feeble mind). Thanks for the clarification.

Very interesting, Deb. I thought CVS and Walgreen had gotten out of the liquor business (leaving only RiteAidl locally, in my feeble mind). Thanks for the clarification.[/quote]

Walgreens stopped selling liquor. CVS and Riteaid still do at some locations. Some have the distance problems, etc.