The quest to get a Trader Joe’s in the Blue Water Area may be coming to an end. Organizer Carolyn Middleton spearheaded the effort back in 2014 and is ready to call it quits.
The emergence of new loft housing and the renaissance of the downtown commercial and cultural scene, along with the proximity to the bus station and boaters, prompted Middleton, a real estate agent, to try to persuade Trader Joe’s, a neighborhood grocery store chain that is known for affordable gourmet and unique offerings to come to Port Huron.
For six years, Middleton recruited fellow community members to join her in petitioning the franchise, but never got more than an automated response from Trader Joe’s. Middleton has over 4000 people still following her Facebook page, “Bring Trader Joe’s to the Blue Water Area”, but thinks it’s time to accept that it isn’t happening.
In 2018, the owners of Countrystyle Marketplace in Fort Gratiot announced their intention to create a downtown grocery store, and their plans for the location are in progress. Meanwhile, the newly renovated Aldi in Fort Gratiot does offer some products similar to Trader Joe’s. The nearest Trader Joe’s stores are in Rochester Hills, Grosse Pointe, and Royal Oak.
Reporting for WGRT – Jennie McClelland
