Update:Trader Joe's officially interested in KC

Can't happen too soon. They'll need to sell wine/beer/liquor so I'm betting MO will win. Note for the record KS...Carrie Nation may be dead but she's still costing you money.

Finally, some good news! I've been e-mailing location requests to TJ's for years, begging them to come to KC! I think 135th & State Line would be a great FIRST location. The area already supports patrons from both sides of the state line, and a TJ's would definitely be able to take advantage of that.

Why should St. Louis have 4, and KC none? My daughter already thinks the only real reason I visit her in Paducah, KY is because there are Trader Joe's on the way there & back! =)

I've been astounded at the success that Costco has achieved in midtown. This city needs another midtown success, and I think that TJ could help. Several years ago, Joyce suggested a location at Westport Road and Main Street, the old Scaggs/CVS location. There is readily available parking, it's on the MAX line and close to downtown. Additionally, the area is known by foodies as being across the street to my favorite KC store, Pryde's. The area could use the boost that Trader Joe's would bring to that area.

Please oh please bring me a Trader Joe's...

It would be a tragedy to put the store all the way out at 135th and State Line. I think down town would be an excellent location and there is a severe lack of good grocery shopping in the Midtown area so another quality store more acessable would be amazingly fantastic. I have never understood why St Louis has 4 in the area and we have zero. I also think that it should be on the Missouri side as it would be a tragedy not to have the Two Buck Chuck available.

I lived in the northwest, and all of the Trader Joe's that I shopped at were not in posh parts of the town, they were in easily accessable parts of town, areas easily reached by bus or walking in specific communities. Somewhere in the Urban Core would be awesome!

That is ridicules!! 135th and Stateline!! How the heck are the people who actually value the environment enough to not have a vehicle and live in MIDTOWN, the only place where there are decent bus routes/schedules, suppose to get there? TJ'S!! DON'T GET SUCKED INTO THE LEAWOOD area VORTEX!! Come where you will be appreciated!!

I think anyone here that is bashing on Trader Joe's has never shopped there. And... I think that 135th and State Line is a perfect location! This news totally made my week :)

except 135th st? wtf! i think brookside would be perfect.

Thrilled, thrilled, thrilled! YESSSSS!

To those who say that a Whole Foods or Nature's Pantry would be preferable ... you don't understand why Trader Joe's is Trader Joe's. It's not a health food store (though it has a lot of healthy stuff). It's a fun, inexpensive store with lots of yummy food, frozen dinners, prepared meals (love their Greek salad), candies, cookies (ginger cookies!), mixes (love their rice mixes) and so forth and so on.

I rhapsodize about Trader Joe's! And like others here, I have asked friends and relatives back in California to send me "Trader Joe's Care Packages" and whenever I go back home to CA I send back big boxes stuffed full of ginger cookies and UFOs (mint chocolate candies) and rice mixes.

I am beyond elated that it's coming here! As long as it's in the Kansas City area I'm okay with it!

I beg to differ on the Two Buck Chuck ( or actually 3 buck in St. Louis) it is a Great Wine!!! yes you can get other wines there cheap as well, but this wine is great, especially for the price. They do have a new one called ( and excuse the spelling) vandeguay, and it was most enjoyable to say the least. So "No" Trader Joes is not whole foods, but they do have great things including the two buck chuck and will frequent their store or stores wherever they are located in the KC metro area.

I'm with (almost) everyone on the TJ's bandwagon. Two points for clarification:

Stop comparing it to Whole Foods. It's not trying to be Whole Foods. They are wildly different concepts.

And stop with the raves for Charles Shaw. I get the appeal--everyone wants to be able to say, "Ha! People spend for wine when this stuff is just as good! We've outsmarted the snobby wine people!" Wrong. It's awful. The irony is, you can buy all kinds of drinkable wine there for $5 to $8.

The more good food in Kansas City the better. It's about time for Whole Foods to get some competition.

I think Trader Joes needs 6+ stores in the Kansas City area.

You have either not shopped at a Trader Joe's or Nature's Pantry, or both. I have shopped at both, and they aren't even close. I go to Trader Joe's for reasonably priced nuts, healthy snacks, juices, wine/beer and some gourmet items. I go to Nature's Pantry for bulk items, unique cooking items/spices and healthy ingredients like flax, quinoa and stuff like that. It is pricey compared to TJ's.

Horrible is such a strong word. There are very few places that are horrible. Horrible would be roaches running around, dirty/smelly, terrible tasting food. I've noticed the same things at Whole Foods that TJ's has, only TJ's is a lot less expensive. Everyone is a little different with there preferences.

Trader Joe's is not a Whole Foods, but then Whole Foods is not a Trader Joe's. Each is unique, while selling some of the same things.

I can't wait. I have watched with envy as Chicago, Indiana, and now St. Louis have gotten TJ's and waited for the day I could "run" to TJ's to pick up a few things. Picking up a few nonrefrigerated/frozen things on trips just isn't the same. I agree with many other commenters that Lee's Summit would be a great place for a TJ's. I'm a native Californian who's lived in KC for over twenty years, and this is really good news!!

I grew up in California, but have lived in the KC area since '84. While I've noticed the prices creaping up some at TJ's, they don't come close to matching Whole Foods. I agree, they lack in fresh produce, but they make up for it with lower prices on many other products. We have Whole Foods, Nordstrom's, and yes, fine dining here in KC, and I can't afford them at my salary, accept for the occasional splurge. I simply can't justify the outrageous prices Whole Foods charges. Bring on Trader Joe's! I'll buy my produce elsewhere.

If I want to spend 3 times as much on food, I go to Whole Foods. If I want to spend twice as much, I go to my local super market. If I want to buy all of my food for a family of five for a week at a reasonable price, I go to Trader Joe's. Really, who can afford to go to Whole Foods these days? Price compare and you'll find you'll be better off doing most of your shopping at TJ's. With the exception of a couple of frozen dinners...most of it is delicious and my family loves it. 2 buck chuck is good, but there is definitely more to the store than wine. Hope y'all enjoy!

I echo the rave about Two Buck Chuck. And the organic food and other great items from Trader Joes would be a welcomed benefit. Everyone keep your fingers crossed and put out that great kharma in the universe to get TJ's here in the KC Metro Area! G'day!

Interested in Trader Joe's coming to KC?

Search for Bring Trader Joe's to the Kansas City Metro in Groups.

JOIN!! The more noise we make the better.

Actually, Kansas already has a marijuana tax. Look it up!

I am a believer in the Downtown Comeback. More people are moving to Downtown and the younger generation are getting more health cautious. I am sure TJ's will succeed in that spot. We are currently missing a grocery store within walking distance in the downtown area. This will further help the recent success of the downtown revitalization. TJ's should go Downtown.

Um, guys don't get too excited here. They said "it has to be in the right location". Translation: stop bugging us. Maybe they will come, maybe not. There is no committment here. I shop at TJs all over and I can tell you one thing for SURE, they will not be in midtown, Brookside would be a maybe. At least not if it is the only location. This is a niche store. I have never seen one in anything other than relatively posh suburban areas. If they do come, it will almost certainly be to the KS side b/c Whole Foods and Wild Oats already have tilled the ground proving the market is in JOCO.

um, westport is in missouri. maybe you need to lay off the weed.

The Price is so much lower for a better product, The most dissapointing thing about moving to Kansas City is the lack of Trader Joe's, Seriously Hen house, And I do shop their, Will be having stores close down shortly after trader Joe's arrives, It is done so well there. My wife is a nutritionist and Has done extensive research on even the financial side of shopping. And on Average there is a 20-30% savings on your grocery bill, for most times healthier and better food that you will get at trader joes. Again I am not against Hen House, I like them, and it will be sad to see them go, but once you have the trader joes lifestyle, you just cannot go back. And it's time for change... better stuff at a better price.

My first thought, you must work at a Hen House, and I feel your pain. And probably agree with the wine selection price, But if you knew that you could get wine just as wonderful for 25-50% less, wouldn't you buy it. And I am not a fan of 2 buck chuck, even though many people do like it.

I hope they don't open it up in Missouri, as it won't last long.

Westport would be better than 135th & State Line. Shoppping there is like shopping on 31st & Indiana.

Yep, Missouri will prolly tax marijuana before Kansas too.

Thanks for the great news Al, I would love it if Trader Joe's opened in Kansas. We need it!!!

Kansas needs a Trader Joe's. I agree with the other reader that it can't get here fast enough.

I don't care where it goes, just bring one to Kansas City! Hello Two Buck Chuck! =)

There is an old Osco at Westport and Main that would be perfect OR build in the developing food area in Brookside around 55th and Main. Our organic grocery options are way to limited in midtown!

51st and Main could house Dean and Delucas but not TJ's.

Great news and I'm loving the location at 135th and State Line on the MO side. Evidently TJ's is also building a new distribution center close by, as I was told that was the reason they were not yet in our area.

Don't you mean Whole Paycheck?

Why would we want the TJ to be in the hood? I think 135th and SL is PERFECT! It needs to be in a nice neighborhood. And as for the comment below where someone posted eff off TJ... You are a moron, don't screw this up for the rest of us. Its not about money, it's about supply and demand you idiot

I think midtown is an awful location and I even live in the area. There would be lots of theft and thugs hanging around the parking lot; not to mention the bums. I don't want to worry about getting mugged when going to grocery shop. TJ's should be in a nicer area, and 135th is just the spot. Sure it's a bit of a drive, but heck, have lunch out there.

We have all been waiting such a long time for TJ's to come to town. The perfect location is in New Longview in Lee's Summit. It would be easily accessable to folks on the east and west side of the state line. And, what a fabulous setting...

51st & Main Street.

What is Trader Joes without wine?

midtown makes the most sense and i like the idea about using the old osco building at main and westport rd.

That is exactly where I suggested!! I know in San Francisco they had at least 1 TJ in the same shopping center as a World Market and there is also a World Market at 135th and Stateline. Keeping my fingers crossed for my clients and myself!

I believe the reason why 2 buck chuck use to be good and isn't now is because originally it was a higher priced wine then was going out of business. So, the business made it hella cheap so they could get rid of it. That's how it started.
It's gross now because it's actually worth $2 where before we were getting a deal for a vineyard going out of business.

I may be wrong, but I remember the first time it was out and why it was out.

The old Jewell/Osco Drug building (with the clock tower) in Westport right on Main Ave would be perfect. It's to great a building to just have sitting empty!

the perfect central location for everyone. I say put it on Troost.

What about 435 and Bannister, i hear they are going to build some stores there that are sport of health related, plus Offices that i bet would be use Trader joes for a lunch spot.

Kudo's to Missouri

Hmm, I'm sure you can find some "good chains" in Seattle too. I hear the seafood their really sucks too.

I'm not nearly as excited about this as I would have been before this post ran on Fat City in February: http://blogs.pitch.com/fatcity/2009/02/trader_joes_responds.php. What, suddenly KC is good enough for TJ's? Why the change of heart? It's about the money, not about the fans. Now that they're convinced we have it, they want it. Seriously, eff off, Trader Joe's.

Well after years of waiting it looks like Trader Joes is coming to KC. Well I'm moving back to Portland this summer where there are a number of locations. At least this way when I visit KC I can enjoy some 2 buck chuck. Enjoy Kansas City... it's about time they opened up here... only been writing them for 12 years!

I am also a California transplant and miss Trader Joe's. I have my parents ship stuff to me all of the time! I am THRILLED!

Glad to hear about Trader Joe's. I've been to the one in Milwaukee and loved it.

Another store that we don't have is Fresh Market. They are also great.

Considering that Milwaukee is only 90 miles from Chicago, it has a lot to offer. Here in KC we have to go hundreds of miles to get to an IKEA. I don't know why we get overlooked.

Trader Joes is so overrated and besides if your looking for a great wine selection look no further than your local Hen House Market. They have a great selection of wines from the inexpensive to the really good stuff. And unique food items? No one has a greater selection than Hen House. Just sayin'...

I have been waiting for years for a Trader Joes! I am from California and have really missed it. Since I have been here, I have tried to shop at Whole Foods, but the prices are WAY too high for me. Very cost prohibitive. I can get some of the exact same things at TJs for less than half the price. No Pudge Fudge mix, for example is $4.99 at WFs, $1.99 at TJs.
I especially like the unique simmer sauces and frozen foods at Trader Joes.