What's it take to get a Trader Joe's around here?

I thought my small group of friends were the only ones who were craving pre-made pizza dough, chocolate chip dippers, and trail mix on this side of town.  We hoped that the space vacated by Giant in the Plaza del Mercado shopping center would be filled by a Trader Joe's.  Apparently, there are some other like-minded folks.

I see that Allison Soussi-Tanani also wants a Trader Joe's in the Plaza del Mercado shopping center.  So much so that she's put up a petition on change.org!  I don't know if stores make location decisions by petitions, but its a great try.  She's put up some demographics and economic reasons, more substantive than my reason of wanting one in walking distance so I don't have to drive to the other side of town to get a bag of sunflower seeds.

A few months ago, there was some construction in the space and I excitedly thought our pleas to the grocery-store-powers-that-be were going to grant our wish, but sadly, no - it was an ill-fated mattress and furniture store that is now closing.  It could've been worse, I guess, another car parts dealer, for instance.  Like many shopping centers in the area, the shopping center seems to be losing some tenants that are not being quickly replaced.  The Thai restaurant, which I thought was under renovation, has closed, as well as the Quizno's.  This corner of town is now without a grocery store, oven-baked sandwiches, and pad thai.  How are we to survive?  Thankfully, we still have coffee, french fries, pizza, and ice cream.

As the mattress/furniture store packs up, we'll cross our fingers and wait to see what fills the space next.  And maybe Joe does pay attention to petitions and we'll get some peanut butter filled pretzels and flaxseed tortilla chips on this side of town.

I haven't spoken to Allison about her petition (I couldn't find a contact on the petition) but if you want to read more - see Trader Joe's petition at Change.org