Residents Petition for Trader Joe's in Old Magruder's Space
More than 600 people are asking the grocer to fill an empty storefront on Maple Avenue
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It's been two months since Magruder's Supermarket — a family grocery store that had anchored the corner of Maple Avenue and Courthouse Road for decades — shut its doors.
And now a group of residents is asking Trader Joes to take its place.
As of Sunday night, 610 people had signed a change.org petition called "Trader Joe's: Come to Vienna, Virginia, to fill in the void left by Magruders."
They're hoping it will attract the attention of the specialty grocery store
There are 14 Trader Joe's in the Washington, DC area — including locations in Reston, Falls Church and Fairfax.
But those that signed the petition argued traffic often makes them rethink the trip to those locations, or avoid them all together.
The Magruder's space, on the other hand, is central to many Vienna shoppers.
"The store has an ideal size and the Trader Joe concept would be a great replacement," one petitioner wrote.
Some argued it would also be filling a void: the cheaper produce, wine and beer that Magruder's once offered is hard to come by at other Vienna grocery stores, residents said.
But it might not be as easy as an online petition, even one with a lot of traction.
Trader Joe's takes requests for new locations on its website, but a quick google search yields dozens of communities, some with thousands of signatures, still lobbying for a store in their neighborhood.
In a 2010 article about a fight to bring a Trader Joe's to another DC neighborhood, Greater Greater Washington said if a community wanted a the store, it would have to add more residents.
"There's only one real way to get such businesses to move in: Add more residents who can shop there."
Do you agree? Do you think Vienna has a chance of bringing a Trader Joe's to town? Tell us in the comments.
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Related Content:
Magruder's "Like An Old Home" to Employees, Customers
Steph
6:24 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
I added my name to the petition, however, someone I know told me their husband already is working on a deal to put another store in that spot! Not sure what though. Another friend told me that Giant is fighting having TJ's. They wanted to put it where Fresh Market is now. Giant won't allow TJ's in Vienna. I thought it strange they put a PetCo right accross the street from a mom and pop animal Food store. I am sure that hurt business. I sometimes wonder about the thought process of what stores are allowed and what are not.
Carol Lewis
8:55 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
I seem to recall that when the Fresh Market space came open, there were rumors that a TJ's was going in there, and then rumors that Giant and/or the Town kept them out but it turned out that TJ's was never looking at that space. There may have been something on Patch about it.
cb
7:49 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
Not nearly enough parking for a Trader Joe's....
Linda Roberts
9:30 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
there is plenty of parking in the back , and they could put a door in the back of the store
Jane Morey Picardi
8:08 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
It's called competition. That's the free market.
Mary Hill
9:33 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
Would love TJ's there. I miss Magruder's but TJ's would help.
Reston Mom
10:08 am on Monday, March 11, 2013
I tried to sign the petition but it said they had reached 500 signatures so there was no "sign" button on the website.
Joy Zee
12:32 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Reston Mom, I just signed the petition (in ipetitions) with no problem. I hope you give it another try.
Pua Kealoha
2:55 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Giant Food has no influence over who comes in to Vienna .... the Town Council is elected to serve its constituency, not favor one business over another. People from Vienna shop at the Reston/Herndon TJ's ... which means, we have already demonstrated we are WILLING to drive there .... we should STOP shopping at the Reston/Herndon store and advice TJ's we are doing so.
Laura B.
3:49 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
The Vienna Town Council has absolutely no approval authority about what tenants rent private property. The Town does not own that shopping center. The business must meet the Town's zoning and parking requirements, and Fairfax County's building and health permit requirements, but the Town Council doesn't get to say "Sorry, we have enough banks and mattress stores."
As someone pointed out previously, the former Magruders space has a large lot immediately behind the building that is counted in the number of parking places available. Nobody remembers to use it except at ViVA Vienna, but it's there!
Kathryn de V
4:11 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
I contacted Trader Joes sometime ago about the Magruders space. I was told they have no plans to locate a TJs there.
Teri
4:39 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
I had met a few high management execs at a TJ's a few weeks back. I quickly mentioned how we would love to have a location in Vienna (magruder's). Pretty clear, they were not in a place to put a TJ's in Vienna anytime soon...they are working on other areas of the Country (FL and TX). They did admit Vienna was in high demand for them. BTW, I've heard Magruder's was sold to someone who has plans on putting an International type of food store.
Jen I
7:01 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Even though I wouldn't mind a Trader Joe's, do you know how hard it parking would be? It was already tough trying to go to magruder's on a Saturday morning thanks to Panera. The extra parking would do no good, it's tough getting in and out of that plaza as of now!
Vanessa Murphy
2:43 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
There is ample parking in the back that is underutilized. If they create a "back" door like Rexal, I think that would relieve a lot of the parking issues. Also, Trader Joe's parking lots all seem to be on the smaller side, including the original one I grew-up with in Huntington Beach, CA.
Charles Leven
8:49 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
We would love to have a Trader Joe's in the Magruder's space. It is different enough from Giant, Whole Foods and Fresh Market that it would not be much competition, we think. Let's go for it!
Vanessa Murphy
2:39 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Thank you for the update Erica! I am hopeful, however, I also heard the rumor about an Asian/Chinese grocery store deal in the works. Trader Joe's would be a wonderful store and a great community partner to have in Vienna.
Erica R. Hendry
2:46 pm on Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Just so folks know, we are on a (continuing) battle to get more information about Magruder's and if their previously-reported possible sale went through. We'll keep you posted!
Thanks for reading,
Erica