Trader Joe's Fans Seek 5,000 Signatures for Petition
Pete DeBuys hopes the petition will convince Trader Joe's to open a Smyrna-Vinings location.
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Editor's Note: Due to confusion surrounding the original Trader Joe's petition, Pete DeBuys decided to create a new petition using a more reputable hosting site. The link has been corrected in the story below.
We’ve posted about the community’s love for Trader Joe’s on Patch before. But is love enough for the grocery chain to open a store in Smyrna-Vinings? One Smyrna resident isn’t waiting to find out.
Pete DeBuys recently set up an online petition asking Trader Joe’s to open a store in Smyrna-Vinings.
The petition, a sort of Trader Joe’s Bill of Rights, reads: “We the people of Smyrna/Vinings , in order to form a more perfect grocery, establish value, insure quality and provide for the common wellness, promote the general foodie community, and secure the blessings of healthy choices to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Petition for Trader Joe’s of Smyrna/Vinings, Cobb County, Georgia, U.S.A. “
So far the petition has 106 signatures, though DeBuys said he’d love to see 5,000. DeBuys said he was advised by a Trader Joe’s manager that some communities have been able to convince the corporate office in California to open a store through a petition. It certainly worked for Nashville.
He even started a Trader Joe’s Smyrna Vinings Facebook page to promote his cause. That means there are now two Facebook pages devoted to bringing TJ to Smynings.
You can show Trader Joe’s how much you think he belongs in Smyrna-Vinings by liking the two Facebook pages, signing the petition or by filling out the store request form on TJ’s website.
Have you signed the petition yet? Why do you want a Trader Joe's? Tell us in the comments.
Read More About Trader Joe's on Smyrna-Vinings Patch:
Evan Barker
10:16 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The link to the petition is a mobile phone browser link, you need to type 'www.' in lieu of 'm.' to see it.
Sydney Busby
10:26 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Hi Evan. I went in and fixed the link. It should work fine now.
Sydney Busby
12:06 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Here are two comments from Smyrna-Vinings Patch's Facebook page:
"Just had this conversation yesterday with a neighbor - we NEED a Trader Joes here. Had the spinach and cheese stuffed pork yesterday!"
"YES! I dont understand why there isnt one local already!"
D. Cohn
12:35 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
I am not sure if I signed it or not. After I filled everything out, it took me to a page to donate money which I do not wish to do.
Sydney Busby
1:55 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Hi D. Cohn! Your signature was counted. That donation page is for the website that hosts the petition. You're not required to donate for your signature to count.
Pete
2:00 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Sorry, I did not know IPetition was asking for $$$. THat was not disclosed to me when I started the petition. I will look into it.
I did not see a signature with your D.Cohn.
Francie
12:37 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Great fresh food at good prices. Most of their products are below cost of publix and kroger. Good environment for shopping. YES - excellent idea.
Pete
2:01 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Not an original idea. Janet Rau got me started.
L. Davis
2:59 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
I want a TJ's here but I'm afraid the odds aren't in our favor. It started on the west coast (more than a third of its stores are in California). Recently it's been aggressively adding stores along the corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C. It's also expanding into new markets like Florida, Texas, and upstate New York. In 2012 they plan to open 25 to 30 new locations but the south/southeast doesn't seem to be their target location.
Janet Peck
6:34 am on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Need better instructions regarding signing petition.
Amberly Bailey
9:20 pm on Thursday, June 28, 2012
Def want a Trader Joe's!!!!! We need it.
Kim Larsen Dickerson
3:13 pm on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Yes please
B. Sevilla
8:23 pm on Sunday, July 1, 2012
I like Trader Joe's.... I go to the one at Roswell Rd. since next door is the Uniform Store for my children school. One in this area will be very good!
Brigida Tellez-Sevilla
Anna Beth
12:39 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Definitely need a Trader Joe's in the area.
Caroline Gamma
3:24 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
YES YES YES we need Trader Joe's in Smyrna/Vinings area. Great quality and great prices.
Janet R
5:39 pm on Monday, July 16, 2012
Up to 1,546 signatures! Still going strong!
Sandi Ruttenberg
10:08 am on Friday, July 20, 2012
please let me know where to sign... i enlisted my email address for future updates. is that the signature email too? i am tired of traveling from smyrna to buckhead trader joe every week... crossing fingers, sandi :-)
Sydney Busby
10:17 am on Friday, July 20, 2012
Hi Sandi,
Thanks for your comment. A link to the petition can be found in the body of the article. Click the blue link in the sentence "Pete DeBuys recently set up an online petition asking Trader Joe’s to open a store in Smyrna-Vinings."
Thanks for reading Smyrna-Vinings Patch!
Sydney Busby
Brian
10:39 pm on Saturday, July 28, 2012
I think Belmont Hills is a better location. Jonquil Village had the grocery portion set at 40,000 sq feet. It's going to be tough to convince the lenders to allow a 10,000 sq foot anchor. Belmont Hills will be mixed use and a 10,000 sq foot TJ will be more appropriate in such a development. Additionally, Belmont Hills is at the major intersection of Atlanta Road and Windy Hills which will have the unique potential of pulling West Cobb, Mableton, Vinings, Smyrna, Cumberland apartments and condos and maybe even some outer Buckhead (Paces, Margaret Mitchell) West of I-75 and E. Cobb residents just East of Power's Ferry that are too far from the E Cobb location. Some Marietta residents may prefer TJs to the larger Farmer's market near the big chicken.
I reached out to Halpbern to see if they would consider a TJ and haven't gotten a response. Is anyone able to get in touch with them?