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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-24-20 Public Comment - C. Gruetter - Trader Joe'sFrom:agenda@bozeman.net To:Agenda Subject:Thank you for your public comment. Date:Tuesday, March 24, 2020 10:42:33 AM A new entry to a form/survey has been submitted. Form Name:Public Comment Form Date & Time:03/24/2020 10:42 AM Response #:364 Submitter ID:25696 IP address:205.149.15.253 Time to complete:28 min. , 12 sec. Survey Details Page 1 Public comment may be submitted via the form below, or by any of the following options. Public comment may also be given at any public meeting. Email: agenda@bozeman.net Mail to: Attn: City Commission PO Box 1230 Bozeman, MT 59771 In-person delivery to: Attn: City Commission City Clerk's Office City Hall, Suite 202 121 N. Rouse Ave. Bozeman, MT First Name Carol Last Name Gruetter Email Address c_gruetter@yahoo.com Phone Number 714-308-0613 Comments I moved here from California and miss Trader Joe's market beyond words. Many of my neighbors would LOVE to have a Trader Joe's market here in Bozeman, but we have all heard that our City Commission does not want a Trader Joe's in Bozeman because it would negatively impact the Co-Op. Because I have shopped at Trader Joe's market for years, and because I shop at the Co-Op, along with other markets, I can tell you first hand that there are completely different. The Co-Op resembles that of a mini Whole Foods. Under normal circumstances, the Co-Op has an open food opportunity for soup, salads, legumes, chicken and vegetarian meals, along with a sandwich shop to make your custom sandwiches. Trader Joes does not have that. Co-Op specializes in fresh organic veges and fruit, herbs, etc. Trader Joe's market primarily has pre-packaged veges and fruit and more than half of their veges and fruit are NOT organic. Trader Joe's carries a small line of boxed cereals (maybe 5 different types), while Co-Op has an isle of cereal, plus pour options. Trader Joe's carries pre-packaged nuts, however, you can't pour as much or as little of nuts, cereals, chocolate candy, flour, etc., as you want. Co-Op allows you to pour as much as you want, use containers to reduce waste, all of which is one of the special feature of the Co-Op that I love. Trader Joe's market does not offer that. Trader Joe's does offer wine, but typically less expensive wine "cheap wine". Co-Op has organic and higher end wine. Co-Op offers an entire isle of natural cosmetics, lotions, pour options, natural remedies for common colds, specialized natural soaps. Trader Joe's offers only a handful of items that range from two or three types of hand soap, one facial cream (that doesn't work very well...), a body scrub and a lotion. Their cosmetics, lotions, etc. is very limited compared to Co- Op. Trader Joe's meat section is comprised of pre-packaged meats, chicken, pork. However, they do not have a fresh meat counter offering fresh seafood, chicken, meat, etc., as the Co-Op does. Trader Joe's does have a lot of pre-packaged cheese, some of which is organic, however, the majority of their cheese is not organic. Co-Op has an amazing selection of cheeses that are all organic or very close to organic. I have always had a difficult time with their cheeses and veges and would drive to another local market called "Mothers Market" for fresh veges and fruits, cheese, fresh meats, etc. Needless to say, there is a massive difference between Trader Joe's market and Co-Op. The City of Bozeman has grown so much, and is continuing to grow fast, that there is an absolute need for a Trader Joe's. Every time I shop for groceries, I bring my large Trader Joe's reusable bags. 9 times out of 10, someone will approach me and say "I wish we had a Trader Joe's here...I love Trader Joe's...". With all of the growth here in Bozeman, I KNOW that it would not take away from the Co-Op. I will continue to shop and support the Co-Op because it is specialized more like a mini Whole Foods Market and I can buy all organic items of every kind. I understand that Billings is trying to get a Trader Joe's market in their city. I have to be honest, I would drive to Billings simply to shop at Trader Joe's market. Interestingly, I know a lot of people here in Bozeman that would do the same! So why not contact Trader Joe's so that it will benefit the residents and generate revenue for the City of Bozeman as well. Let those residents of Billings, Helena, Livingston, etc., all drive to Bozeman to shop at Trader Joe's. There are various markets here in Bozeman, Town and Country, Albertsons, Safeway, Smiths, Co-Op, all living together and operating. Petsmart, Dee-O-Gee and other local pet stores all co-exist together and operate efficiently. There are many restaurants in the City of Bozeman, all living together and operating efficiently. Please consider bringing in a Trader Joe's market for the residents of Bozeman. I think all of you would enjoy shopping at a Trader Joe's market and still shop at the Co-Op as well. Thank you. If you would like to submit additional documents (.pdf, .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .gif, .jpg, .png, .rtf, .txt) along with your comment, you may alternately address agenda@bozeman.net directly to ensure receipt of all information. Thank you, City Of Bozeman This is an automated message generated by the Vision Content Management System™. Please do not reply directly to this email.