Here’s why Salem is so depressing

For a brief moment, oh so brief, the headline in today's Statesman Journal gave hope to my terminally depressed Salem mind.

I've pretty much given up hope that Salem ever will be anything other than the bland, featureless, fast-food loving, strip mall adoring, second (or third) class city that it is now.

But my heart fluttered with unfamiliar optimism when I read:

Keizer Station a boon to area economy. More stores set to open; grocery store is a possibility

Grocery store is a possibility. Why, that could mean…dare I hope?...no, not in Salem…maybe, though…be optimistic…keep reading…they might be referring to…

A Trader Joes. Which my wife and I, along with countless other Trader Joes-deprived Salemites, have been visualizing for quite a while.

Reading on, I came to mention of Keizer Station's Area C.

Area C, west of the railroad tracks and south of Chemawa Road, remains undeveloped and unplanned, but a change could be made there to allow a 120,000-square-foot building that could house a grocery store, developer Alan Roodhouse said.

Hmmmm. Undeveloped and unplanned. Doesn't sound promising. Then, three paragraphs down the line, my Salem depression returned with a this town is so goddamn #@$%^! vengeance.

If the changes are approved, the store could be in by the end of 2008 or mid-2009, Roodhouse said. Store candidates include Fred Meyer, Safeway, WinCo and Wal-Mart. Stores not interested in the site include Trader Joe's, Whole Foods Market, Albertsons and Roth's, but Roodhouse said any of them would be welcome in the spot.

Dear God, why hast thou forsaken Salem!? Is it because we share the name of a city known for its witch trials? Whatever the reason, lift the curse, the black cloud, the life-sapping vibe, that hangs over Oregon's second largest city.

Lord have mercy – not another WinCo or Wal-Mart!

My sentiments were shared by many of those who left online comments about this story, which begin here and continue for several more pages. Trader Joes was mentioned longingly.

Just what is it going to take in order to get Trader Joe's to come to either Keizer or Salem? Come on folks, we need something new! I am sure that the people in the area may be able to use a Walmart or Freddys, but wouldn't it be nice to have something that we don't already have? We need a Trader Joes!

I think the powers that be at Trader Joe's are doing themselves a disservice. They need to think outside the box and take a chance on Keizer Station. Their bean counters are too focused on demographics and not interested in reality. People in this area are dying for Trader Joe's and I believe it would do quite well.

I too would love to have a Trader Joe's in Salem. About once or twice a month we drive up to the one at the I-5 & 217 interchange and stock up on a lot things that you can only buy there. I have heard the reason that Trader Joe's will not come to Salem, is that the average disposable income in Salem does not fit their model. This is the same reason Whole Foods and other stores avoid Salem. As the article said, the management of the development would welcome them here, but the stores don't want to come. Does the term, "one horse town" ring a bell here?

I was in Bend for a vacation a couple of weeks ago, and they are building a Trader Joe's there. I couldn't believe it. I do not understand why the heads of that company seem to think Salem or this area wouldn't be a good place for a Trader Joe's. Trader Joe's is not an expensive store, at least not to me. So I don't get it.

I don't understand Trader Joe's reticence in not wanting to come here. Salem has a mixed population, but there are many people who make lots of money and appreciate their products. I believe they would do well in Salem. They would also draw people from other areas that may not go to Portland to shop them. For them to snub Salem makes me think twice about shopping Trader Joes at all.

Would LOVE to see a Trader Joe's! I drive up to the one in LO now & could spend even more at one here with the gas money I'd save.

My sources tell me that Trader Joe's will locate here within the next couple of years but only in South Salem.

Well, that last comment left me with a ray of hope, a slight parting of the perpetually gray clouds that hang over Salem's shopping and restaurant scene.

Keizer Station, for those who are fortunate enough to have missed its trendy-in-1980 big box shopping center design, currently has such yawn-inducing stores as: Target, Sleep Country USA, Ross Dress for Less, Lane Bryant, and an OSU Beaver Fan Shop.

(Oh, yeah. That's just where I don't want to head, after watching OSU lose to Cincinnati in such a dreadful fashion last week.)

Such is Salem, land of Wal-Mart, Target, and all-you-can-eat dining. But here's the thing, Mr. or Ms. Trader Joes location planner, who I hope will read this post one day after Googling "Salem + Trader Joes."

Your store would make out like gangbusters here. Really. Especially if it's in south Salem, which is populated with a larger share of health-food friendly creative class types than, say, the penitentiary neighborhood.

Build it and we will come.

Comments

[eat salem]

They don't need to build a new shopping center to get a successful Trader Joe's in Salem. There are plenty of places like the old Albertson's on South Commercial that would be perfect for TJs. We may not have much hope for Salem, but at least we don't live in Keizer. When I saw that water tower going up off the parkway, my first thought was "who's logo was going on that billboard?" I guess we'll see soon.

Um, move if Salem is so depressing.

[Brian]

I'm too depressed to move.

[Robert Paul Howard]

Dear Brian,

Try chanting "Hare Krishna." I've heard that brings great bliss.

Robert Paul Howard

[rachel]

the reason they won't come to Salem (TJ's) is that people are willing to drive north or south to go to them. there is no incentive. now call them on this and appeal to their sense of environmental responsibility.

[Laura]

I agree, we should call Trader Joe's on their environmental responsibilities. I'm sick and tired of the monopoly one certain store has on this town for organic health foods & supplements- sick and tired of it!

[jeremy]

came across this post when looking for news about the TJ's possibility.

what everyone needs to do is email/write/call TJ's and tell them we are interested. They must not think there is a sufficient market here. I agree with a lot of people that there actually is a market for it. I think that if they put it in in K Station it would do really well too (get the silvertonians to drive in as well).

I'm going to go email TJ's right now. Everyone else should too.

[Barbara Sullivan]

A friend wanted Trader Joe's so badly to come to Salem that she pestered them unmercifully. They wrote her a letter telling her to quit doing this. I,too, am DYING for Joe's to come to Keizer Station. I love the store, and spend lots when I'm fortunate to get up to the store on I-5. Don't know what the answer is.

Why don't you move up by Trader Joe's if you hate it here so much. I hate people like you who complain about things but then do nothing about it. And Trader Joe's is overrated.

[Brian]

Geez, anonymous commenter, you sure sound like you're complaining (about me). Yet you can't do anything about it (unless you'd like to buy me a nice house next to a Trader Joes in some beautiful place).

Also, Trader Joes isn't overrated. My wife and I rate it very highly. You're welcome to your opinion, of course. That's all we're talking about here: opinions. And my opinion is that Salem can be pretty damn depressing compared to the much more vibrant and interesting Eugene and Portland (not to mention Bend, Ashland, ...)