Yesterday there was a lot of excited buzzing in normally sleepy Salem after the Statesman Journal ran a front page story about a sign going up at Keizer Station listing Trader Joe's as a retailer.
Download SJ Trader Joe's story
Sure, the story quoted a Keizer Station representative who said that the sign company screwed up, and there wasn't any deal with Trader Joe's. But I, like lots of other people, figured that this was an attempt to cover up the premature divulging of Trader Joe's imminent arrival in the Salem area.
Unfortunately, it looks like the Salem curse -- which keeps Oregon's capital city squarely centered in the boring cultural doldrums -- is still in play. KATU's Melica Johnson reported that this truly was a mistake by the sign company, and there is no plan for a Trader Joe's in Keizer.
But a Trader Joe's spokesman said the company is definitely interested in Salem. Good news. Question is, how interested?
Not interested enough to choose Salem over Corvallis for a recent store location, even though we have three times more people in this area. And not interested enough to respond to the "Trader Joe's in Salem" visualizations that I asked people to psychically send out to the cosmos three years ago.
Last night I emailed Trader Joe's (again) via their store location request form.
There's a rumor (based on a sign at Keizer Station) that Trader Joe's will be coming to the Salem, Oregon area. My wife and I passionately hope this is true. We would visit a Keizer store often, and know many other people who would do likewise. Make our day, and come to Salem/Keizer.
I also belatedly joined the "Put Trader Joe's in Salem Oregon" Facebook page, which has over 1,700 members.
It's disappointing to learn that our area will be Trader Joe's-less for quite a while longer, apparently. However, it didn't seem right that a store would be located in Keizer Station, a soulless big box development.
Trader Joe's, south Salem is the place for you.
There's plenty of vacant properties that would be perfect for a store. And I also happen to live in south Salem, not that this has anything to do with my passionate urging for you to open a store in our area. It's simply the epicenter of health-minded folks who would flock to a Trader Joe's in droves.
No more teasing. Next time a photo of a Trader Joe's sign appears in our local newspaper, it's got to be for real.
Hi, My first visit to your blog. I agree wholeheartedly and think that So Salem would be the ideal location for TJ's. Of course, like you, the fact that I live in So Salem has NOTHING to do with. Nothing, really.
Posted by: Cindy Mulligan | June 18, 2010 at 05:16 PM
I WISH I lived in South Salem. Alas, I'm relegated to the worst part of town among methheads and illegals whose palates I very much doubt exist beyond chicken mcnuggets and hometown barfette. *sigh*
Posted by: Marcy | June 25, 2010 at 12:02 PM