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| GA's shopping cart |
...a Trader Joe's in Hoboken. High quality food at low prices... yeah!
This morning was my very first trip to our city's new Trader Joe's.
Look at all of that great stuff in my cart! TJ's tempura chicken (white meat chicken, sweet and sour sauce), beef meatballs (GA secret: boil for 20-30 minutes first to reduce fat and salt), frozen cod, peas, fresh brussel sprouts, canned green chillies and black beans, pesto-filled tortellini... yum.
So you ask: how does this store compare with TJ's in Edgewater?
The inventory is at least the same, but the interior layout is more spacious; aisle widths feel at least double.
Not kidding people, this store feels wide and open. Though crowded today, shopping cart navigation was easy; no ass-bumping with strangers, no waiting to get through an aisle. Also, the (21) cashiers are in a separate, dedicated area that doesn't overlap with customer circulation (like Edgewater's does).
And for those who want to drive there, TJ's will validate up to (1) hour of parking in the building garage.
My review: 4 thumbs up! Trader Joe's is a great addition to our great little city.
But... please note that TJ's cannot replace our local supermarkets, ShopRite and ACME, which have the full range of foods and household products- but it sure complements them.
Of interest to note, Mike DeFusco took a victory lap for "voting on the building" that houses TJ's! I kid you not:
Yes, that's true.
GA, a ZBA Commissioner who served with Mike, voted on this application too.
For the record, when Mike and I heard the 1350 Willow application, it had already received preliminary site plan approvals for height and density variances- in either 2007, 2008 or 2009. Like other applications that came back to us after receiving preliminary plan approvals, the 'fix was in' on height and density. Once a variance is granted, it cannot be rescinded.
So, I cannot say personally, I am "proud" of a building of this height and density in an R-2 district.
I don't want to second-guess why the original board granted these variances. But they did.
I do recall my board got the Applicant's agreement for modest improvements. There were no tenants noted in the application, just ground floor space designated for commercial use. The hearing transcript is no longer online- I'l try to find it.
Anyway, GA is thankful that 1350 Willow's tenant is Trader Joe's.
But GA and other members of the Zoning Board who approved the application had no part of luring this tenant. Thus, taking credit for the building- being "proud" to have voted for a building that required multiple variances to be built before it lucked into a great tenant is-- in my opinion, a stretch.
It's also telling. Telling about the attitude of a politician who is "proud" of voting for a building in an R-2 residential zone that required the granting of so many variances to exist.
No Frozen Wanky Burgers?!?!?! Did they run out already?!?!?! Sad!!! Fake news!!!
ReplyDeleteSold out!
DeleteMike paved the way for Trader Joe's in the same way that he "brought" Shake Shack to town...oops, that one didn't actually happen either, LOL! I guess you have to play fast and loose with the facts when you don't have any ACTUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS to speak of. He's totally mayoral material, yup!
ReplyDeleteI'm proud to have read this article on this website that points out Mike DeFusco is phony who is grasping at straws! I'm proud to also note he has committed political suicide by teaming up with Tony Soares!
ReplyDeleteWellstone will teach any smart strategists , you don't attack losers... why the focus on Soares, unless you're just pathetic bullies, or a poll showed it's time to destroy someone... More Masonista style posts as Zimmer team grows concerned .
Delete9:43, you're mistaken. it's not "attacking losers", it's pushing back against what those folks have been saying here and elsewhere for months. if someone is going to act like they do and say the things they do, then they should be prepared for the blowback.
Deleteno attacks, just counter arguments. the other side of the coin. didn't realize you guys were, as they say, such sensitive snowflakes.
I love the posts that claim any mention of Soares's name and role in the DeFusco camp is "masonista" and a sign of Zimmer's growing fear of the DeFusco/Soares juggernaut.
DeleteNewsflash. Since Zimmer has polled too she is probably about has concerned about DeFusco as DeFusco is confident of beating Zimmer, meaning not much.
Soares is only a campaign issue to the extent that having him hanging around speaks volumes about DeFusco's inexperience and lack of judgment.
One of Tony's closest political friends famously said that the reason to keep Tony on your political team was because "it's better to have him pissing out than pissing in."
Candidates with good judgment quickly learn that it's actually better to keep your distance from anyone who can't stop himself from pissing.
Mike Defusco taking credit for something other people did. Sounds like he's behaving just like the mayor.
ReplyDeleteIs today the big day when Mikey and the Misfits actually announce they are running ?
ReplyDeleteMisfits?
DeleteSounds like cut and pastes from 411
I doubt MDF will make any declaration in the near future. After repeated misteps and very public failures, media reports are saying he has lost much of his out of town money pledges and is still looking to find people willing to run on his ticket.
DeleteZimmer should replace Mello with Parks Champion and 4th Ward Advocate John DeGregorio.
ReplyDeleteHe's a great guy, always sweeping sidewalks, roaming parks and playgrounds for litter and candybar wrappers and is a steadfast supporter of all that is good. He got zimmer elected and rid the 4th ward of Sara and Lane
Whose John DeGregorio? The only DeGregorio I ever heard of was Ernie who a pretty good point guard for Providence years ago.
DeleteThis building was approved back in 2007 - it came back to the ZBA for changes to allow a larger store, more setbacks and a better design- and it was supported by the reform ZBA members including James and Nancy at the time
ReplyDeleteThat's true, and it's exactly what I wrote. The ZBA approved the application with improvements, but the fix was in on height and density from (you say) 2007. Those variances could not be undone. I am looking into the history of this application- if you have transcripts, etc. pls forward: grafixavenger666@gmail.com
DeleteAs for being "proud" of the approval, let's say I did my job.
Many of the large buildings that have gone up in Hoboken were given their major variances under previous administrations. The more recent ZBA Boards have been able to make some modifications to make them less offensive.
Delete11:00- Bingo.
DeleteIf I remember correctly, Tony Soares was appointed to the ZBA by David Roberts together with Mike Novak (Cammarano's running mate) in January 2009. Does anybody know how many large buildings Soares voted to approve while on the ZBA? It would be fun to compare Tony's voting record to Novak's from the time they served together.
ReplyDeleteMore accurate claim Mike D could have made: "I am proud of the small contribution I made to bringing Trader Joe's to Hoboken by voting, together with (almost?) all my ZBA colleagues to minor changes in the site plan that facilitated a bigger better grocery store on the already approved site. I'd like to thank the members of the Planning Board, all appointed by Mayor Zimmer, for their roles as well. And of Course I'd like to thank Mayor Zimmer for her important contribution as well."
I wonder why he didn't write something accurate like that.
I can't speak for him, but your post spreads the glory. That doesn't seem like the Mike way.
DeleteYup Zimmer has already shown him exactly how to take full credit for things that everybody else did
DeleteI think he picked up that bullshit from Soares.
DeleteDeFusco announced he is running for mayor but apparently can't find anyone willing to run with him. Can you blame them for not wanting to buy a ticket on a train wreck.
ReplyDelete