Where is TJ’s?:
”
Hi Red Phone. I just wanted to tell you that you do such a great
job and keep it up please! I hope you can shed some light on the
answers I have gotten concerning Trader Joe’s coming to South
County.
Where is TJ’s?: “Hi Red Phone. I just wanted to tell you that you do such a great job and keep it up please! I hope you can shed some light on the answers I have gotten concerning Trader Joe’s coming to South County. I was told the Morgan Hill planner flat out told them no. I mentioned that we would love to have them in Gilroy and was told the City Council does not want them here in Gilroy. Is this a political plan to keep a great grocery store with many unique items, organic and otherwise, reasonably priced, out? I don’t understand. What is City Council’s problem? They have big box stores and said they want small and medium sized businesses. Trader Joe’s would be a great asset to Gilroy. C’mon folks. Thanks Red Phone and keep up the good work. I’m glad you’re here.”
Thanks for the compliments, caller. The Red Phone checked with Morgan Hill City Manager Ed Tewes to get the scoop.
“The City of Morgan Hill is very interested in locating a specialty grocery store similar to or exactly like Trader Joe’s,” Tewes said.
A number of locations in Morgan Hill are already zoned and entitled to allow that to happen, Tewes said, adding that the city recently rezoned an area near Cochrane Road in the last three months for such a store. City officials and property owners have contacted Trader Joe’s and other stores.
“I can say that specialty grocery stores are interested in Morgan Hill,” Tewes said.
That being said, Gilroy’s Economic Development Corporation Interim Director Jane Howard said she spoke with vice president of real estate at Trader Joe’s, who said that “neither Gilroy, Hollister nor Morgan Hill are in the running right now.”
The reason? Trader Joe’s looks especially close at population density, usually preferring 100,000 people within a three-mile radius. The company also looks at demographics such as college education. In that area, they prefer 60 percent of adults to have a college education. Right now, none of the three cities meet those demographic criteria and Trader Joe’s prefers not to do regional stores.
“At this time, they don’t have any immediate plans for the area, but they may look at us again in the future,” Howard said.
Boarding up blues: “Hi Red Phone guy! On the front page of your Thursday edition (March 31), you have some school shots. One photo shows maintenance workers that you claim are boarding up the school. But you can’t board up a school with one board. Also you have Charles van Meter discussing options, but with who? The shadow in front of him? Tell your photographers they’re doing great work otherwise, but try to think of the photography in relation to the story so that the people in it do something so we can get a caption that says what they’re doing relates to the story. Bye-bye.”
Red Phone “guy?” Hmm … interesting.
The Red Phone had minor problems understanding your call, but passed what it got from it along to the Dispatch photographers. However, do note that the workers in the photo are indeed boarding up the burnt-out section of the school. You can clearly see that they’ve placed several boards before the one being placed in the photo.
Gambling at the Gardens: “I would like to suggest that the Indian casino be placed at Bonfante Gardens. It would then be the pure form of delight, intrigue, along with interest for the city of Gilroy.”
Now you’ve suggested it. Thanks for the chuckle, caller.
Kudos to Red Phone: “Hi, I’m just calling to thank you for your help on getting that tree fixed out there on 10th Street. They just finished cutting that bad branch out and so I just wanted to thank you. I had to follow up with the city … but with two calls to the city and your help, it was taken care of. Thank you again. Bye.”
Thanks for letting Red Phone know it was of some service. It appreciates hearing when things are taken care of, so a great big thanks for keeping it posted on the progress.
