Trader Joe's finally confirms that a Trader Joe's is opening on 14th Street at Avenue A

Trader's Joe's has added 432 E. 14th St. to its list of store openings (H/T to the commenter who shared this!) ... officially confirming what was pretty well-known already...



In early February, an EVG reader spotted equipment marked Trader Joe's being moved into the retail space in the retail complex of the residential building called EVE here just west of Avenue A.

This confirmation arrives nearly two years since we first heard of a TJ's opening at this location. In May 2017, The Real Deal, citing anonymous sources, reported that Trader Joe's "quietly signed a lease about two months ago with Mack Real Estate and Benenson Capital Partners ... for 8,531 square on the ground floor and 14,170 square feet on the lower level."

However, there wasn't much else mentioned about this possible new TJ's location (aside from some TJ clerk gossip that it wasn't happening) in the ensuing months-years. Finally, in a preview of EVE last August, City Realty noted: "To the delight of residents and neighbors, Trader Joe’s is the building’s retail tenant."

Last October, I asked a Trader Joe's media rep at the national office if they were opening a store here. The response: "Unfortunately, we do not have any current plans for a store at that location."

Nevermind that TJ's was mentioned in the "East Village Life" section that lists nearby restaurants and stores. Per the EVE site: "Although with a Trader Joe’s in the building, you may not need to go too far."

Trader Joe's is reportedly tight-lipped about its operations ... which apparently includes not disclosing information about new locations, and likes to have store buildout details worked out before announcing a target opening date, as the Lo-Down has noted.

From the look of it, the retail space at EVE still has plenty of work left before it's retail ready.



The store is also right in the middle of the L-train slowdown-repair zone...



... the new L-train entrance on Avenue A will be almost right outside the TJ's front door...



As previously noted, it will be curious to see what impact this might have on the Associated directly across the street as well as the food-heavy Target a few hundred feet to the east.

TJ's is opening on the site of the onetime Peter Stuyvesant Post Office (1951-2014).

Previously on EV Grieve:
UPDATED: Did you hear the rumor about the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office branch closing?

Former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office slated to be demolished

The former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office will yield to an 8-story residential building

All about EVE, the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office-replacing rentals on 14th Street

Claim: A Trader Joe's won't be coming to new development at 14th and A after all

Trader Joe's: No current plans for grocery at 432-438 E. 14th St.

Looks like there's a Trader Joe's coming to 432-438 E. 14th St. after all

Looks like there's a Trader Joe's coming to 432-438 E. 14th St. after all

Last October, I asked a Trader Joe's media rep at the national office if they were opening a store at 432-438 E. 14th St. at Avenue A. The response: "Unfortunately, we do not have any current plans for a store at that location."

Perhaps those current plans weren't for October ... but it sure looks there are plans now here in mid-winter.

Yesterday morning, EVG reader Laura H. spotted this truck dropping off various equipment outside the new 8-story luxury rental called EVE... the work was happening in the under-construction retail space on the 14th Street side of the building...



... and there is a sign on the supplies...



... wait for it...



Some history. In May 2017, The Real Deal, citing anonymous sources, reported that Trader Joe's "quietly signed a lease about two months ago with Mack Real Estate and Benenson Capital Partners ... for 8,531 square on the ground floor and 14,170 square feet on the lower level."

However, there wasn't much else mentioned about this possible new TJ's location (aside from some TJ clerk gossip that it wasn't happening) in the ensuing months. Finally, in a preview of EVE last August, City Realty noted: "To the delight of residents and neighbors, Trader Joe’s is the building’s retail tenant."

Still, a few months later, Trader Joe's said there weren't plans for this location.

A map on the EVE website shows a Trader Joe's here...



It's also now mentioned in the "East Village Life" section that lists nearby restaurants and stores. Per the EVE site: "Although with a Trader Joe’s in the building, you may not need to go too far."

Trader Joe's is reportedly tight-lipped about its operations ... which apparently includes information about new locations, and likes to have store buildout details worked out before announcing a target opening date, as the Lo-Down has noted.

From the look of it, the retail space at EVE has some work left before it's retail ready. It will be curious to see what impact this might have on the Associated directly across the street as well as the food-heavy Target a few hundred feet to the east.

Meanwhile, leasing continues at EVE, where the residential entrance is at 433 E. 13th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue. This development is on the site of the onetime Peter Stuyvesant Post Office (1951-2014).

Previously on EV Grieve:
UPDATED: Did you hear the rumor about the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office branch closing?

Former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office slated to be demolished

The former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office will yield to an 8-story residential building

All about EVE, the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office-replacing rentals on 14th Street

Claim: A Trader Joe's won't be coming to new development at 14th and A after all

Trader Joe's: No current plans for grocery at 432-438 E. 14th St.

Trader Joe's will end home delivery in Manhattan on March 1

An EVG reader was at the Trader Joe's location on Union Square the other day when she overheard two employees say there would be no more home deliveries from the store beginning on March 1.

"Horrified and dependent on deliveries — four flights of stairs — since they day they opened in NYC (in 2006), I went to the manager's desk because I hoped I heard it wrong," the reader told me via email.

"But no, it was apparently right, according to someone who seemed to have all the details. She said the cost of the delivery service is too great and is affecting pricing overall," the reader continued. "They tried every alternative and can't make it work without raising prices, which is their priority. So, deliveries are done — all locations, not just Union Square — effective March 1."

I reached out to the Trader Joe's HQ for more info.

Kenya Friend-Daniel, the company's national director of public relations, confirmed the news.

"When we originally introduced delivery, we had one store on 14th Street in Manhattan and options for outside delivery services were limited," she said in an email. "Today, there are seven Trader Joe’s stores across Manhattan, with more on the way; and there are now a number of services available for transporting food and people."

So...

"Instead of passing along unsustainable cost increases to our customers, removing delivery will allow us to continue offering outstanding values — quality products for great everyday prices, and to make better use of valuable space in our stores," she said. "This was not a decision we made lightly. We value our customers and all that they do to come shop with us."

Oh speaking of more Trader Joe's on the way... will one of those happen to be coming to 432-438 E. 14th St.?

"I have nothing to confirm at this time," she said.

Trader Joe's: No current plans for grocery at 432-438 E. 14th St.

The Trader Joe's opens today down in one of the Essex Crossing buildings on Clinton and Grand.

The company first made this announcement on Oct. 4, 2016.

News of this debut has prompted questions about the TJ's reported/alleged for the new development — EVE! — in the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office at 432-438 E. 14th St. at Avenue A.

As the above photo shows, that space remains pretty much a shell. (The residential portion of the building is progressing, especially as seen from the 13th Street side. Leasing is expected this fall, per one report.)

In May 2017, The Real Deal, citing anonymous sources, reported that Trader Joe's "quietly signed a lease about two months ago with Mack Real Estate and Benenson Capital Partners ... for 8,531 square on the ground floor and 14,170 square feet on the lower level."

There hasn't been much else mentioned about this location (aside from some TJ clerk gossip that it wasn't happening). However, in a preview of EVE in August, City Realty noted: "To the delight of residents and neighbors, Trader Joe’s is the building’s retail tenant."

Aside from the ground-floor space looking pretty raw, the area outside this storefront will reportedly serve as one of the the main staging areas for repairs during the L-train shutdown. While the L-train service ends for 18 months starting this coming April, the prep work has been ongoing since the summer of 2017.

Anyway, now that I've buried the lead... I asked the Trader Joe's PR office if they are still opening an outpost at this address. Their response: "Unfortunately, we do not have any current plans for a store at that location."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Claim: A Trader Joe's won't be coming to new development at 14th and A after all

All about EVE, the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office-replacing rentals on 14th Street

Nightmare scenario for residents who learn that 14th Street and Avenue A will be the main staging area for the L-train reconstruction

Claim: A Trader Joe's won't be coming to new development at 14th and A after all

[Photo of 432-438 E.14th St. from Saturday]

An EVG reader was recently at the Trader Joe's on 14th Street at Irving Place. A store employee told the reader that Trader Joe's is no longer opening an outpost at 432-438 E. 14th St. — the new development in the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office.

In May 2017, The Real Deal, citing anonymous sources, first reported that Trader Joe's "quietly signed a lease about two months ago with Mack Real Estate and Benenson Capital Partners ... for 8,531 square on the ground floor and 14,170 square feet on the lower level."

Since then, there haven't been any further updates about TJ's arrival here in the base of the 8-story, 114-unit rental at Avenue A.

According to the 14th Street employee, Trader Joe's is opening locations on the Upper West Side and Soho in 2018, and will look for a spot on the Lower East Side. The Trader Joe's newsroom lists the UWS and Soho openings for later this year. There isn't any mention of a second 14th Street outpost. (There's also no mention of the TJ's outpost reported to be coming to Essex Crossing.)

Will update if/when we hear anything more on what's coming to the retail space at 432-438 E. 14th St.

Meanwhile, one block to the east, work continues at the incoming small-format Target store, which will sell, among other things, an assortment of so-called grab-and-go sandwiches, salads and beverages.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Looking at the future home of 14th Street's 2nd Trader Joe's (27 comments)

Post office-replacing residential building with a Trader Joe's nearing the top on 14th Street

Looks like workers are just starting on the seventh floor (of eight total) here at 432-438 E. 14th St. near Avenue A.

Entrance to the two-level, nearly 23,000-square-foot Trader Joe's will be on the 14th Street side of the building while residents will access their rentals from the 13th Street side. (The plans call for 114 residential units with 20 percent designated as affordable housing.)


[Looking to the west on Avenue A]

You can find coverage about the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office here.

Bonus shot of the work at 500 E. 14th St. at Avenue A, where Target is taking the corner retail slot with a summer 2018 opening...



Previously on EV Grieve:
Developer withdraws zoning variance request for former 14th Street post office site

Going up and going down on 14th Street

Just noting a milestone of sorts at 432-438 E. 14th St., where an 8-story retail-residential building is on the ascent at the former site of the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office between Avenue A and First Avenue...



The original plans for 432-438 E. 14th St. call for 114 residential unit with 20 percent affordable housing. A Trader Joe's is signed on for the retail space.

Meanwhile!

Directly across the street, work is now underway for the Avenue A entrances to the L train...





YouTube user Brian Camacho took the video last Tuesday ... showing the prep work at the First Avenue station ... along with a look along 14th Street that shows the scope of the work to come...



As previously reported, the MTA is building the new entrances to help relieve congestion at the stop, which sees an average of 23,000-plus riders per weekday. The entrances at First Avenue and Avenue A will be made ADA compliant.

The work along 14th Street includes a new power substation at Avenue B to give the MTA the juice to operate more L trains.

The MTA did not provide a timeline on when all this will be complete. The shutdown of the L is expected to last 15 months with a start date of April 2019. Read more about that project here.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office slated to be demolished

The former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office will yield to an 8-story residential building

New residential building at former 14th Street PO will feature a quiet lounge, private dining room

A look at the new building coming to the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office property

Looking at the future home of 14th Street's 2nd Trader Joe's

[View from 14th Street]

Trader Joe's has reportedly signed a deal to open a two-level grocery in the new development that replaced the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office at 432-438 E. 14th St. between Avenue A and First Avenue.

The Real Deal, citing anonymous sources, first reported on this late last week.

The food purveyor quietly signed a lease about two months ago with Mack Real Estate and Benenson Capital Partners ... for 8,531 square on the ground floor and 14,170 square feet on the lower level.

In May 2016, there were reports of Trader Joe's taking the retail space in Extell's incoming retail-residential complex one block to the east between Avenue A and Avenue B. Target ended up signing a lease for the corner at 500 E. 14th St. The remaining storefront at No. 500 is 14,500 square feet.

The residential entrance (there will be 114 units) to the 8-floor building will be on 13th Street... while access to the Trader Joe's will be on 14th Street.


[View from 13th Street]

The Trader Joe's will likely have a little competition across the street with, reportedly, a Morton Williams. [Updated: Town & Village reports that Morton Williams will not sign a lease now.] Not to mention the small-format Target, which will feature grab-pay-then-go food items and other groceries.

In 2014, a Facebook group was advocating for a Trader Joe's for Ben Shaoul's condoplex at 98-100 Avenue A. That retail spot is now Blink Fitness.

Will a second Trader Joe's on East 14th Street help alleviate the pre-storm lines at the current location between Third Avenue and Irving Place?

Previously on EV Grieve:
Former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office slated to be demolished

The former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office will yield to an 8-story residential building

New residential building at former 14th Street PO will feature a quiet lounge, private dining room

A look at the new building coming to the former Peter Stuyvesant Post Office property

Lines ahoy!: Trader Joe's coming to Essex Crossing on the Lower East Side

ICYMI: The announcement came this morning that Trader Joe's is coming to site 5 of the sprawling Essex Crossing complex on the Lower East Side. The TJ's is slated for a large retail space at 145 Clinton St. at Grand.

The 15-story building will include a 22,000-square-foot Planet Fitness on the second floor when construction wraps in 2018. You can head to The Lo-Down for more details on this development.

A TJ's recently opened in Kip's Bay. And maybe one will still open at 500 E. 14th St. That incoming CityTarget is only expected to take half of the retail space at 14th Street and Avenue A.

Report: Trader Joe's a possibility for the Extell Development on 14th Street and Avenue A

[The southeast corner of 14th and A yesterday]

It's possible that you will one day have the choice of two Trader Joe's to stand in line at on East 14th Street.

According to DNAinfo, Trader Joe's is looking at taking the retail space in Extell's incoming retail-residential complex along East 14th Street between Avenue A and Avenue B

“It’s not a totally done deal, but we think that we’re close,” Ari Goldstein, vice president of development at the Extell Development Company, told DNAinfo New York.

If the deal pans out, Trader Joe’s will take over a storefront on the corner of East 14th Street and Avenue A, said Goldstein — in part to help offset the hellish lines at the chain’s most popular city location, sitting just a few blocks way at 142 E. 14th St. near Union Square.

“That is their most profitable store right now, and the line to get in that store … is insane,” said Goldstein. “They’re concerned they’re losing credibility with their customers because they’re not offering a good quality experience. So this would supplement that and pull a lot of traffic away from that store.”

The new location would serve customers in the East Village and Stuyvesant Town who would otherwise have to trek to the Union Square location, Goldstein said.

As we previously noted, a pollster for Fairway was soliciting opinions about the possibility of a new store for East 14th Street and Avenue A back in 2014. (A Fairway to this location isn't happening now.) In March 2014, a Facebook group formed to advocate for a Trader Joe's at Ben Shaoul's condotopia at 100 Avenue A. (Sorry — you got a Blink instead.)

As DNAinfo's Allegra Hobbs reported, Goldstein dropped this TJ tidbit for 500 E. 14th St. during CB3's Transportation & Public Safety/Environment Committee meeting Tuesday. The topic was about a request for loading zones for the development's commercial tenants. CB3 would need to OK all this before TJ would apparently commit to the location.

This grocery talk comes at a time when the owners of the Associated on East 14th Street between Avenue A and First Avenue are attempting to have their lease renewed.

Even if TJs signs up for this location at 500 E. 14th St., you'll likely still have awhile before shopping for, say, bags of Ode to the Classic Potato Chip here. The development appears to have a ways to go before it's ready for action. Workers are still filling in the foundation.

In total some day, the two 7-story complexes — 500 E. 14th St. at Avenue A and 524 E. 14th St. — will house more than 150 units, 32 of which will be below-market-rate.

Previously on EV Grieve:
The disappearing storefronts of East 14th Street

[Updated with correction] 8-lot parcel of East 14th Street primed for new development

New 7-floor buildings for East 14th Street include 150 residential units

1st activity at 500 E. 14th St. since the demolition phase, and when the standing water froze

Community meeting tonight to address construction noise at Extell's East 14th Street development sites

So much for that Fairway coming to East 14th Street and Avenue A then

Construction watch: 500 E. 14th St. (plus, Extell construction site still keeping residents up at night)

A quick check on the pre-blizzard line outside Trader Joe's

EVG reader Bonnie (who is not shopping) sent this in just before 11 a.m. here on East 14th Street ...

New Facebook group is advocating for a Trader Joe's on Avenue A

There is a new Facebook group titled "We Want a Trader Joe's at 98-100 Avenue A."

Most recently, the address was home to East Village Farms (RIP February 2012). Developer Ben Shaoul bought the property for $15.5 million. Permits filed with the DOB last December show plans for a proposed building that is 37,042 square feet — 29,881 for residential and 7,161 for a ground-floor retail space ... good for 8 stories and 43 residential units, plus bicycle storage in the basement and an "outdoor tenant recreation space" on the roof.



The new retail space is likely destined for some type of local or national franchise. Or bank branch.

Here is the group's mission statement:

This group is advocating for a Trader Joe's at 98-100 Avenue A, the former site of a great Korean deli. We are witnessing the loss of many neighborhood services, like grocery stores and laundromats, throughout New York. WE ALREADY HAVE A CHASE BRANCH AND A DUANE READE…

East Village resident Bryan Keller (an EVG Facebook friend) created the group. He has lived nearby for the past 22 years and says that the group is a form of "social persuasion to get services like good grocery stores that we need instead of more banks, drugstores and 7-Elevens."

And what about the Trader Joe's on East 14th Street near Union Square?

"[T]he long lines are proof that people really really like Trader Joe's," he says. "I try to go on the off hours. But it's really more about getting a decent grocer [at 98-100 Avenue A]. I really miss the old deli."

Previously on EV Grieve:
Inside the abandoned theater at East Village Farms on Avenue A

Reader reports: Village Farms closing Jan. 31; building will be demolished

That's it for East Village Farms

Asbestos abatement continues at 98 Avenue A, Ben Shaoul's latest East Village trophy

The line that you were waiting to see at Trader Joe's

Well, we heard about the lines at Trader Joe's all day... now EV Grieve reader DC sends along the shot that shows just how stupid long that the line got this evening...

And from EV Grieve reader Joe... a shot of the line waiting for the wine store....

And another angle later from Lauren...

The Trader Joe's love connection

From Craigslist:

To every man who works at Trader Joes on 14th - w4m (Union Square) - m4w (East Village)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We love you, too.

And to clear something up: Not everyone likes to talk much. Odds are that the employee liked you but felt uncomfortable asking for your number at work. When in doubt, make the offer yourself.

The guys I work with are a pretty great group, most with college degrees, some with grad degrees. They're artists and musicians and writers and actors and comedians and models and rappers and photographers and filmmakers. Smart, guys creative guys doing manual labor, and sometimes, you have to ask them yourself.

You should give a name. TJ's Missed Connections often end well.

Maybe there is something about a man in a Hawaiian shirt uniform. And remember: When in doubt, make the offer yourself. I actually know someone who was arrested for making the offer...

People were standing in line to get into Trader Joe's this morning

Maybe this happens every Sunday morning. And why?

Noted

Why the frenzy to get into Trader Joe's this morning? Thanksgiving rush?