Trader Joe’s decided to open a neighborhood grocery store this fall in Kent partly because of a location close to high-quality housing and higher-household incomes.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Kurt Hanson, city economic development manager, told the City Council at its Feb. 18 meeting what helped attract Trader Joe’s to the MarketPlace at Lake Meridian shopping center at the northwest corner of 132nd Avenue Southeast and Kent-Kangley Road.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“It has wonderful proximity to high-quality housing,” said Hanson, who noted the Meridian Valley Country Club is within a few miles of the shopping center.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Hanson said the average household income within a 3-mile radius of the site is about $86,000, much higher than the state’s average household income of $56,000. He said the median home value in the area is $309,000 compared to the state average of $287,000.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“It’s a case study of how to recruit retail,” Hanson said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Trader Joe’s hopes to open in October, Hanson said. The company announced in January it would be coming to Kent to open an approximately 13,000-square-foot store. The chain features imported and domestic food and beverages and has more than 400 stores in 36 states.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Residents are plenty pumped about the store opening on the East Hill.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“If you look at the Kent Reporter (website) story about the store opening and how many comments are attached, it’s unbelievable how much community interest there is in Trader Joe’s,” Hanson said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n