Trader Joe's
Opened: 2009
Today's Trader Joe's sure looks like any other Trader Joe's and doesn't seem particularly notable inside or outside. Don't be fooled: this 15,000 square foot store is actually built into part of a former A&P centennial. Constructed in the early 1960s by A&P, the space later was subdivided. By the mid-1980s, the right side had become a Heartland Drug, a chain that CVS later acquired. A Newbury Comics store was next to it in the other half of the former A&P. In 2009, CVS moved into the Newbury Comics space and expanded out the left side of the building, leaving space for Trader Joe's in part of the original A&P. Trader Joe's opened in 2009.
The layout is pretty straightforward, with produce on the left side, dairy at the back, meat and cheese/deli in the back-right corner, and frozen foods in the middle.
An interesting aside: even though the ceiling here is no lower than it was at the Lower Allston store, it doesn't feel quite as restrictive because the drop ceiling helps even it out.
This was the second Trader Joe's in Cambridge (there are currently two). The earlier one opened in 1996 in the southern part of the city.
I don't typically visit Trader Joe's out of interest since the stores are typically very formulaic, like an ALDI or similar cookie-cutter operation. I don't think I've ever covered as many of their stores as we've seen recently in the Boston area! That said, I've also now visited quite a few of the New York metro-area locations (along with those actually in the city) but haven't posted them yet.
These vaguely T-inspired signs are likely referencing the fact that the red line terminates at Alewife, just north of here.
As does this Alewife Breadline sign...
As usual, the grocery aisles are angled here, running from the front-left corner to back-right.
And a look across the front-end, with nice large windows. That's one of the best features of the Trader Joe's stores.
Opened: 2009
Owner: Aldi Nord
Previous Tenants: A&P > ? > CVS
Cooperative: none
Location: 211 Alewife Brook Pkwy, Cambridge, MA
Photographed: July 27, 2019
Today we're also touring the Whole Foods just across the street, and tomorrow we're touring an unusual independent grocer just northeast!
I’ve never shopped at a Trader Joe’s before, but there are a few in my area. There’s also one being constructed in Quincy right down the road from Star Market.
ReplyDeleteDidn't realize there was one in progress in Quincy -- thanks!
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