| Trader Joe's is Coming Soon to Lakeshore Avenue Albertsons |
I am delighted to announce that at long last my efforts have paid off . . .Yes, the first Trader Joe's in Oakland will open in the old Lakeshore Avenue Albertsons building in early 2007. After considerable community advocacy organized by my office and months of negotiations, Sansome Pacific and Trader Joe's have signed a lease to open a Trader Joe's store on Lakeshore Avenue. The neighborhood has long hoped for this result. In response to my on-line survey, over 800 people wrote in to say that they wanted a food store in that location, and the great majority favored a Trader Joe's. For months, when I've been out in the neighborhoods, the question I'm most often asked is "What's happening at the old Albertsons? Can you get a Trader Joe's?" It took a long time, and it wasn't easy, but the answer is YES, I GOT A TRADER JOE'S! The exterior of the store will get a facelift, and at my insistence, the loading dock will be moved from the back of the store (Wesley Way) to the side (Lakepark), so as not to disturb the Wesley residents in the early morning hours. Many of our Grand Lake area
seniors and folks without cars will be very happy that they can once again
buy groceries within walking distance of their homes. And I've heard from
many, many moms and dads with young families that they will be frequent
customers. I am very pleased that we were successful in getting a store
that the community really wanted.
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