Earlier this week, we shared the news that Earth Fare would be closing all of its grocery stores – including the location on Folly Road in West Ashley. The response was huge, but a little unexpected: while some of you expressed disappointment, many of you saw Earth Fare’s departure as an opportunity to bring in a Trader Joe’s.
In response to the announcement, one Charlestonian even created an online petition to lure the beloved grocer to the South Windermere Center. As of Thursday afternoon, that petition has 3,000+ signatures.
Now, city of Charleston leaders are taking action, too. Mayor John Tecklenburg is working to put together a market analysis of the location to submit to TJ’s. More on that soon.
Let’s be real, we already have some pretty great grocery chains around the Charleason area. In the past two years alone, Southeastern supermarket chain Lowes Foods expanded to the tri-county with two new stores (one in Mount Pleasant + one in Summerville; both with Beer Dens 🍻). Plus, another Whole Foods opened in West Ashley, two new Publix locations opened, and a new Harris Teeter is on the way.
Trader Joe’s is a California-based company, operating out of Monrovia, with three total stores in S.C. — one in Mount Pleasant, one in Columbia, + one in Greenville. Why the cult following? Fans cite the affordability (two-buck chuck, anyone?🍷), a kitschy-yet-welcoming environment, and how employees are paid a living wage.
What do you think – do we have enough grocery stores, or do you want to see more? Chime in via our poll below.