UPDATED 12/02/2021
According to a Trader Joe’s press release sent on December 2: “On Friday, December 10 at 8 a.m., Trader Joe’s will officially open its doors in Williamsburg, Brooklyn at 200 Kent Avenue. Following a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, Store Captain Ashley Courtney and the Williamsburg Trader Joe’s Crew will be on hand to welcome customers to their new neighborhood store. The celebration will continue throughout the morning with live music, a reusable bag giveaway, and more.”
The Ribbon Cutting ceremony is slated to begin at 7:55 a.m. and the store will open its doors to the public at 8 a.m.
”Trader Joe’s prides itself on hiring from the local community. Roughly 80% of the entire Williamsburg Trader Joe’s Crew—and 100% of the store’s new hires—are from the neighborhood, with applications still being accepted online at traderjoes.com/careers. In addition, through the company’s longstanding Neighborhood Shares Program, the store will donate all products that go unsold—but remain fit to be enjoyed—to a range of non-profit, community-based organizations, seven days a week,” stated the press release.
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Original piece from October 7, 2021 begins here:
Back in September 21, 1897 eight-year-old Virginia O’Hanlon was having doubts about the existence of Santa Claus. To settle her questioning that was stirred up by her friends, she wrote a letter to the editor of NYC’s The Sun to fact-check Santa for her. Editor Francis Pharcellus Church responded via the now famous “Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” letter, which began, “Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see.”
The news that a Trader Joe’s would open somewhere near River Street and North 3rd Street was first reported by Greenline in August 2015. There was mention that the site had a development stall in 2017. Then in summer 2020, the building looked to be reaching completion. Throughout that time Trader Joe’s stayed mum and didn’t confirm or deny this would be a store location.
Like Virginia O’Hanlon’s little friends, I had my doubts. I admit to being affected by the skepticism of an even more skeptical age. When posts on Facebook would claim Trader Joe’s would be in Williamsburg, I said, “Bah Humbug! Not until I walk through its doors and am able to grab my favorite cereal (Just the Clusters Ginger Almond & Cashew Granola Cereal) and stock up on reasonably priced quality citrus and pantry staples will I believe.”
Then on September 6, 2021 I noticed the announcement on Trader Joe’s site stating a location (#548) would be opening at 200 Kent Avenue (the west side of this building is on River Street). As of September 20, this was the statement on the Trader Joe’s Announcements page, “We’ve consulted our maps and compass and have found a terrific location for a store in Brooklyn (Williamsburg), NY. Our Crew is working hard so we can open our doors in 2021. We’ll continue to post new details about the store and its opening here, so please check back for updates!”
The Greenline 