Trader Joe's gets it, Clairemont

Earlier this year, Clairemont Town Council boardmember Steve Innis was told by Trader Joe's real estate manager Doug Yokomizo that calls can help get certain parts of town on their radar.

Subsequently, in May, Clairemont Town Council president Ryan Trabuco posted contact information for Yokomizo on NextDoor.com. Numerous Clairemont residents started calling to express their desire for a Trader Joe's in their neighborhood. The response was so overwhelming that Yokomizo asked via the town council that Clairemont residents write instead of call.

On September 25 I attempted to contact Yokomizo and received a callback from Trader Joe's PR director Alison Mochizuici, declining an interview and stating that "Clairemont isn't in their two-year plans."

In 2012, Trabuco says he contacted Trader Joe's regarding the possibility of a Clairemont location. Trabuco said, "They responded by telling me their policy of not opening stores within five miles of each other. Shortly after that, they opened their Mission Valley store that is about a mile or two from their Hillcrest location. The next time I asked, Trader Joe's told me that Clairemont wasn't in their plans."

Trader Joe's executive VP Ben Myers explained on Friday (October 2) that “We don't like to announce plans until they are concrete." He went on to explain that there is a lot involved in opening a store. Myers said, "Finding the right lease in the right location is harder than it seems." Myers confirmed that there are plans to look at locations in Clairemont. He can't say when or where at this point, but he confirmed that Trader Joe's has heard Clairemont loud and clear.

Clairemont residents can look forward to Trader Joe's cousin company ALDI, a Midwest discount-grocery chain, to open approximately 45 stores in Southern California before the end of 2016. Liz Ruggles, ALDI's marketing director, said on October 2 that they are looking at eight counties in Southern California, including in San Diego. They will have a better idea of specific locations in March 2016.

(revised 10/6, 12:05 p.m.)