ScottG, trust me, no worries about competition for the Farmers' Market. TJ's is great but their idea of produce makes McDonalds look like a vegan restaurant.

With all of the stories of local businesses struggling to stay afloat it is difficult for me to get excited about a huge national chain coming into my neighborhood and taking business from stores that have been here for generations. I like TJ's as much as the next person but it is a hard sell me with the current economy and erosion of local business. I choose to support local business (whenever possible) I just hope we don't see a drop in attendance at the farmers market, and loose customers for local institutions like Olsen's, Larsen's, and the Ballard Market.

The only thing I'll leave West Seattle for is the new TJ's in Ballard! YAY! It will be nice to hit it up after work...and I will be busing all my precious goods back to West Seattle...if I can do it so can you!

Dear Guest,
If you would like a demonstration of how to carry a case of 3 Buck Chuck on a bicycle, I'd be happy to show you how.

Two blocks to the south of the new Trader Joe's there is a great bicycle shop that sells Dutch Bicycles, specially designed for carrying cases of 3 Buck Chuck.

If you do not wish to purchase a wine-carrying bicycle, Ortlieb and others make bicycle saddle bags and backpacks suitable for such a task as long as you are willing to remove the bottles from the box.

Since you appear to be serious about your 3 Buck Chuck, you might want to consider a bicycle trailer. While usually designed for carrying children, are also capable of carrying more than one case of 3 Buck Chuck at a time.

:)

Dear MichaelSnyder,

It is impossible to carry a case of 3 Buck Chuck on a bicycle. But thanks for your suggestion.

Instead of griping about the parking, why not consider bicycling or walking?

This is just one more reason to complete the missing link of the Burke Gillman trail, which runs just 1 block away from the new Trader Joe's.

I think there must be a law that says every Trader Joe's is required to have a horrible parking structure. Whether it's the constant gridlock and maze of the U-District, the blind curves and dead-ends of the Capitol Hill location, or the micro-sized Queen Anne lot... not surprised to learn that Ballard will be much the same yet different in its own way!

TJ's seems to have a basic floorplan. A small one at that. Although they certainly do cram mass stuff wherever they can. If anybody has shopped either the U-district or QA store they already know about tiny spaces. At least many of us can simply walk to this one in beautiful Ballard. Wahoo!

I've found that if I get to TJ's before 10A, it isn't too crowded and my favorite items haven't been sold out. But after 11A, the aisles get crowded and the people in the parking lot get stupid. Even during the week it can be a zoo, but on the weekends, it gets crazy. And I don't know if it's because they have people whose shifts start at zero dark hours to stock shelves, but I get the impression they can't open any earlier.

But if they did, I'm sure Ballard would be a great test case. Can we try? Huh? CAN WE???

Actually, one thing I am really praying for is that this garage has enough room for two vehicles to pass each other, without hitting any pedestrians (or other cars). And...that it has a place where we can drop off our shopping carts!

I discovered the Trader Joes people are not early risers so if you get there at 9 sharp when they open you have the lot and the store to yourself. I don’t buy much so I am out before there are more than a few cars. I wish they opened earlier but I guess they know their audience.

I checked out the building today. Why must so many new developments have such horrible parking garages? Driving through it today I saw every other spot empty because you can't fit anything bigger than a smart car between the lines, not to mention the many spots occupied by support columns.