Trader Joe’s employee speaks: Seven things you need to know about the Asheville Trader Joe’s
Below is an Ashvegas comment from Craig Ayliffe, a Trader Joe’s employee who says he’s worked for the company for nearly 20 years. Ayliffe responds to another commenter’s concerns about the new business and its effect on the Merrimon area and the displaced business owners.
These statements and opinions are Ayliffe’s.
1.Trader Joe’s isn’t throwing out three local businesses. The owners of the property decided to sell the properties. The current leasee’s may have renewed contracts with the “may sell the property” stipulation and/or the leasee’s are compensated for the displacement, as is usually the case.
2. Trader Joe’s does occasionally buy the property it sits on.
3. Trader Joe’s loves Whole Foods and it’s ethos. We thrive together synergistically in many locations across the US.
4. This store will bring 100-125 (+-) new jobs to Asheville. This is probably 4 times the number of jobs currently represented in these 3 businesses. GOOD JOBS with great salaries and opportunities for advancement. With full 1st class health benefits and dental after 3 months employment. A very generous employer-paid 401-k. Paid days off. Flexible work shifts. Employee discounts. Great music. Good healthy food.
5. I would have not chosen Merrimon, it is crowded. But our stores in LA are situated like this and fit in very comfortably in highly developed areas and dense neighborhoods.
6. As in LA, if you live within 3 miles of a TJ store, your property value just went up 10%. (I am not kidding).
7. Trader Joe’s loves Asheville. I for one am thrilled to see all my Asheville friends finally get a store.
Category: Asheville News, Trader Joe's in Asheville
We don’t live in L.A.
Thank you for posting this. I have known people that have worked at both TJ and WF and they all say they are good employers with good benefits. If you know how to read its clear that they are not saying Asheville is LA. What they are pointing out is though its not the ideal location it can work as it does in other not so ideal locations.
I started reading when I was two, and although some might say I have never matured past that age, I see nothing to validate what you are talking about. Twice this employee referenced LA.
For the record, I have no beef with Trader Joe’s. I hear Aldi is an excellent company to work for and I will not have to deal with Merrimon traffic. As a unapologetic capitalist, I say welcome to Asheville.
However, let me pose another scenario. Say that instead of Trader Joe’s, Office Max decided to move across the street from Staples to directly compete with them. They would still have the same design plans, but will displace some local businesses. Honestly ask yourself, would you support them or would you be up in arms?
Personally, I would love to hear from everyone who actively opposed electronic billboards on Merrimon Ave. Or who opposed Greenlife’s trucks. Or who opposed any high density developments in that area. What are your thoughts?
One more major issue I see. The employee mentioned that real estate increases when a Trader Joe’s moves in. Isn’t a majority of real estate around that area rentals? Will you be willing to pay more rent for a Trader Joe’s? Affordable housing downtown is pretty much non-existent to the creative and service class. I don’t see any signs of reasonably-priced apartments being built in the area any time soon. Most of these tenants have been pushed slightly north of downtown. Will this area become out of the reach as well?
At the wise old age of 62, and having lived in NYC, SF. LA and other high rent areas all over the world, I have come to accept it as a fact of life that where goes the artists and LGBT community (fairy-dusting my people call it and I am both of the above), the attorneys, dentists and speculators soon follow. The rents go up, the creative class moves on (West Asheville? Brevard? Weaverville?) I saw it in the East Village, Venice Beach, Bolinas in West Marin County, Barcelona and countless other places. RE: LA, please understand that LA is not a megalopolis like the Bos-Wash Corridor. It is a necklace of small towns with small town ethos linked together by 75mph freeway systems.
The best way to control the growth of your community (and it should be done) is to limit the growth thru the elective process. You will have a fight on your hands, I fear. Best to start now. Santa Monica did it. Paris did it. Bolinas did it. Asheville can do it. And they are great places to live. With affordable housing and good quality of life.
Re TJ’s: I agree with the writer who mentioned the cost of organic food relative to disposable income. There are many people who cannot afford WF or GL on a regular basis. That will change when TJ’s get to town.
But look, I work for them and here’s my shopping routine in this order: Dollar Tree for non-name brand kitchen wrappers and bags and dish soap, Tj’s for the bulk of food, esp. the amazing prices on organic milk, organic OJ and organic ground beef and bacon and dogs without nitrites or nitrates, Target or W-Mart for medications and personal hygiene, cat food and litter.
Alas, Costco is not yet there (but should I put another rumor to rest? I could. heehee.)
viva la trader joe’s!
the joy in every store I have been in around the east is an absolute and my friends who work for them in Atlanta love the place. Trader Joes has an Asheville spirit…. welcome them with open arms as we are doing with Sierra Nevada and New Belgium
While I’m not a fan of chains coming to Asheville, TJ is different in the fact that it allows those of us who can not afford the other healthy, organic stores products. I think TJ provides healthier foods for low income folks who otherwise can’t afford to walk in the door of the other stores. Eating organic, healthy foods should not just be a luxury for the rich.
So, more or less, you oppose chains that you don’t like?
What is a chain, btw? Are two outlets a chain if 1 is in Asheville and 1 isn’t? If have 2 outlets and both in Asheville is that a chain?
There is a movement to get Trader Joe’s to stop using anti-biotics as a regular part of their meat raising practices (anti-biotics being given preventively – not for an infection). If they really want to be an Asheville store, maybe they could make that commitment as part of the WNC food conscious community.
WF is building directly across the street from TJ’s here in Virginia Beach. Far from complaining, ppl I know are stoked. Apples and oranges in my opinion. Antibiotic fears? Try Samrt Chicken, sold at Harris Teeter. Great blog!
Thanks, Swampy.