Despite some confusion and rumors to the contrary, the new Bethesda Trader Joe's at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue did not open yesterday. But employees of the future grocery store did start stocking the shelves for the first time Monday. Zoom in close on the picture below, and you may just spot boxes of Joe's O's!
The store wasn't even close to opening, and still isn't; so many basic things are still missing inside like signage for navigation around the store. As hip as Trader Joe's may be, it's still a corporate chain store, and doesn't turn on a dime or slap things together overnight. The light is appearing at the end of the tunnel, though!
Looks nice! I sure hope they don’t plaster sale signs or other crap on the nice big windows facing Wisconsin Avenue. So many grocers seem to ruin their nice clean facade. Let the products and produce speak for themselves. It will be nice to get all that natural light into the store, and it looks great when you drive or walk by at night. Kudos to JBG Smith for landing this great tenant.
ReplyDeleteAny news on Orange Theory or the other two smaller tenants? The one opposite the Trader Joe’s looks ideal for a coffee or pastry shop.
I think it's about a week away. The shelf-stable and dry products can keep for a while, and it's not an issue for them to be on the shelves now. Even so, they won't want those products just sitting on the shelves progressing towards an expiration date for too long. Watch for the first fresh produce delivery to occur. That'll tell you when it will open.
ReplyDeleteI bet they'll end up closing the other Bethesda Location a month or two after this one is open. For one thing, the store down the street is's a really old store and there just won't be enough business for both stores.I find it hard to believe they spent all this money on these fancy new shelves and the fancy setup in the new store and still will keep operational the older store.
ReplyDeleteI'll even bet they aren't hiring that many people for the new store because they know they'll be moving the store associates over from the otd store once they close it...............