If you live in the Old Irving or Portage Park area, there are whispers that we could get a Trader Joe's at the Six Corners. Read the thread below, and if you can, please write to the coporation that own's Trader Joe's. We could sure use it.
Letter writing campaign advocating for a Trader Joe's in Portage Park
As OIPA has written before, the former Bank of America (BoA) site at 4901 W. Irving Park in the 45th Ward has been sold to a developer. According to reports in the Nadig Press, this developer has built for Aldi's and other food stores in the past. It is our understanding that the firm is trying to assemble an entire city block--not all of it was owned by BoA--in order to build.
Many residents have expressed a desire for a Trader Joe's in that Portage Park location. Both Aldi's and Trader Joe's are owned by the same company. The Portage Park Neighborhood Assn. and the Friends of Portage Park are spearheading a letter writing campaign urging Trader Joe's to locate here, and OIPA wholeheartedly supports that effort.
Please use the sample letter below, or write your own citing specifics. Why is this area a good match for a Trader Joe's and their product mix? What are their criteria for locating new stores and how can we meet them?
Letters and/or emails should be directed to:
Doug Yokomizo
Head of Real Estate
626.599.3700 office
626.301.4431 fax
SAMPLE LETTER FROM PPNA & FOPP, to fax, snail mail or email:
Doug Yokomizo
Trader Joe's Company, Inc.
Corporate Headquarters
800 South Shamrock Avenue
Monrovia, California 91016
Dear Mr. Yokomizo:
Through our community organizations and neighborhood conversations, we hear of a possible development of an existing +3 acre property at 4901 West Irving Park Road, Chicago, IL 60641 by a group who, in the past, has developed Trader Joe’s Markets.
This particular site is ripe with benefits that include a designated Chicago TIF district to assist with development costs, active community and business associations, two active Chicago Parks, easy highway access with two intersecting 4-lane arteries that include bus routes and a recently completed $20 million streetscape beautification project that included new sidewalks and pedestrian amenities, paved roads, new street & pedestrian lighting, community identifiers and pedestrian friendly integrated planter boxes.
As a resident of the northwest side of Chicago, I am writing in strong support of this exciting possibility. I have no doubt that Trader Joe’s would be warmly welcomed and supported by our community and neighboring communities which has been documented and studied to not only have limited grocery options but also, on average, more expensive choices than other neighborhoods.
I hope this letter helps to convince you that Portage Park is the perfect location for a new Trader Joe’s and you’ll consider this site as an option toward your business expansion.
Sincerely,
Your name and contact info here
