Friday, September 01, 2006

Trader Joe's to come to Claremont



Yep, Claremont has beat Pomona to the punch and will be home to the newest Trader Joe's. I heard today while crossing the street in the Claremont Village. I just did a google search, which confirmed it:

Courtesy of the Claremont Courier:

"Headline: Trader Joe's signs lease
Trader Joe's signed a lease last week to open a supermarket on Foothill Boulevard adjacent to Buca Di Beppo.
The lease was signed with property owner Harry Wu, who recently converted the Claremont Inn to a Doubletree Hotel and who is also redeveloping the Old School House.
The lease requires that Mr. Wu provide a building shell to Trader Joe’s by December 2007.
The addition of a Trader Joe's supermarket will help fill a void along the Foothill corridor, as the Ralphs supermarket permanently closed on Saturday after serving the community for 43 years."

Hopefully it will happen before December 2007. I remember the Old Schoolhouse when I was a kid. My mom and dad would drive us there for art fairs, and I think there was a guinnea sack outlet there. It was quite the destination point back then. Looks like I'll be going there again in the future, this time for ready made salads and healthy chips. No word yet on what the other businesses will be, but I'm excited that they're going to be doing something within the original architecture.

I also heard that Whole Foods Market is coming to Claremont, but I haven't found anything on the internet to substantiate that rumor. Supposedly W.F. is going to move into the building that the Claremont Ralphs has just vacated --on Foothill, just east of Towne. They are expensive, but certain select items they carry are worth it. And their ready made food (roasted vegetable pastas, couscous, greek orzo, etc.) beats McDonald's any day of the week.

If you're thinking that Claremont is still too far to drive to make a Trader Joe's run, read this article about New Yorkers who have to stand in line until it's their turn to go into Manhattan's new TJ.

3 comments:

Ontario Emperor said...

I didn't realize that the Ralphs had closed.

Did you know that there is a Trader Joe's in Upland, freeway close? Take the 10 to Mountain, go north, and cross 7th. It's on the left, right next to Longs.

me said...

oh yes, I'm halfway between the Upland TJ's and the San Dimas one, but Claremont will be even closer. Not walking distance like I had dreamed of, but closer.

me said...

oh and about ralphs, I think that lots of folks just never went back after the strike. I know that we never go there anymore, but used to before the strike. Now we only go to stater bros., trader joe's and henry's. where do you shop?