Trader Joe’s tops the Valley’s most-wanted list
It’s the grocery store that everyone loves and wants here in the Valley.
Trader Joe’s — the national chain of neighborhood grocery stores, popular for their reasonable prices and their unique, almost-cult status store-brand-only products — is the most sought-after business by Morning Call Retail Watch readers.
As we mark the new year, we take a look at all the businesses, big-box retailers and restaurants our readers want to see open up in the Lehigh Valley.
Trader Joe’s
“I wish Trader Joe’s would come to the Lehigh Valley,” writes Mary Ann Amole of Bethlehem.
I received this email and dozens like it daily since I first asked readers to tell me what businesses they would like to have here in the Valley.
For anyone who isn’t familiar, Trader Joe’s is a unique grocery store, known for its low prices and unique foods with a cultlike following. There are no sales, coupons or rewards cards; the chain keeps its prices reasonable thanks to largely buying direct from suppliers. Focused on sustainability, the store does not use plastic bags and the store’s brand of products are packaged to reduce waste.
Most of all, the store is known for its popular (and tasty) store-brand products such as their “Everything but the Bagel seasoning,” dark chocolate peanut butter cups, Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar; and speculoos cookie butter. You’ll find some other brands but largely what you see at a Trader Joe’s is their store brand on their shelves.
Pennsylvania is already home to eight Trader Joe’s locations and more than 530 across the country. The closest store to the Valley is about an hour away, in North Wales, Montgomery County.
“The store that more people want than probably any other store is a Trader Joe’s. I think thousands of people have tried to petition them over the years. I still can’t believe that they don’t have a store here yet. They even have a distributor center in Bath. You’ll be our hero if you can convince them,” writes Pete Darlington.
Maybe this column will convince the chain? Stay tuned.
Other grocery stores
In other grocery-store requests, Retail Watch readers also said they want another Lidl.
There’s only one Lidl location in the Valley, which opened in 2019 in Wilson Borough. Lidl (rhymes with “needle”), a German discount supermarket, has 10 stores in Pennsylvania.
Lots of folks on the western side of the Valley said they love the great prices (and unique German treats) but find it too far to drive.
Another supermarket folks wrote they want in the Valley: ShopRite, which has one location in the Valley (Bethlehem Township and three in the Poconos.)
Chain restaurants
We also asked Retail Watch readers to tell us what chain restaurants they’d like to see in the Valley.
Cheesecake Factory — the national chain known for its desserts made from scratch — has 200 locations across the country but only five in Pennsylvania. The closest to the Lehigh Valley is in Willow Grove, Montgomery County.
P.F. Chang’s, a popular chain focused on Asian cuisine using fresh ingredients, has more than 300 locations around the globe, none of which are in the Valley. The closest restaurant is in Plymouth Meeting, Montgomery County.
Zaxby’s, known for its fried chicken sandwiches and fingers, is a massive chain with more than 900 locations in 17 states and is headquartered in Athens, Georgia. None of those is in Pennsylvania.
Honorable mentions: Isaac’s Restaurant & Deli (chain based near Harrisburg) and a Cracker Barrel on the eastern side of the Valley.
Other retailers
Along with supermarkets and chain restaurants, Retail Watch readers wrote in about other retailers they would like to see in the Valley.
World Market, a national chain of specialty/import retail stores, selling home furniture, decor, curtains, rugs, gifts, apparel, coffee, wine, craft beer, as well as several international food products. Only one location in Pennsylvania and that’s in Montgomeryville, Montgomery County.
Outdoor retailer Cabela’s / Bass Pro Shop, which has a location in Hamburg, Berks County.
Other thoughts ...
Retail Watch readers, in between voicing their strong desires for Trader Joe’s and the like, also said they want more local, fine-dining and semi-upscale restaurants, especially in the Upper Macungie/ South Whitehall/North Whitehall Township area. (It’s a growing area. Seems ripe for it to me.)
Several readers wrote in to say they would love an ice cream shop in Hamilton Crossings in Lower Macungie Township or near it.
One reader asked for someone to open an authentic New York deli featuring lox and bagels, sable, whitefish, corned beef and pastrami on seeded rye.
Lots of readers say they miss department stores and would love to see their return, especially in the Trexlertown area.
Next week
We’ll be back at it, reporting the latest retail and restaurant news.
As always, email me your tips: jsheehan@mcall.com.