Trader Joe's Taking Shape in Bloomfield

In September, we wrote about how Trader Joe's move from Farmington Hills to Bloomfied Township understandably put off some current patrons. Conversely, Bloomfield-area residents and business owners are more enthused, particularly since the construction work is starting to show visible results.

Carpenters and electrical contractors are hard at work at the new location on the west side of Telegraph between the Starbucks and SavOn Drugs in Bloomfield Plaza. Though store officials have yet to announce an official open date, they did target next month

"We've got some reasons to be optimistic," said Bill Wahl, owner of the nearby Relax the Back store, as he noted the changes to the Maple Theater nearby, and the opening of the Bagger Dave's restaurant in just the past two months..

Wahl's business is among those businesses that opened despite the recession and remained in the plaza after Kroger moved, and the Telegraph Road reconstruction project that virtually stopped regular traffic two summers ago.

"After all that, we're still in a good community for business, and if we can continue to rejuvenate the area it will be a great one," he said. "We're thrilled about the Trader Joe's and the foot traffic it will bring."

Other Bloomfield Patch readers shared the excitement on-line.

"You have no idea how happy we are with our new Trader Joe's. When Krogers moved out we have no convenient place to shop. Have to do some of my grocery shopping at the drug store. All of us in my area are so excited to have Joe here. Our mall has looked terrible. So many vacant stores," wrote Patch reader D. Szeles.

"Good move. The Farmington Hills location is terrible," commented Patch reader Robb.

Others were less optimistic about the store's new home.

"They are not going to get much more business there. Not many businesses thrive in that area either," John Ferguson wrote on the Bloomfield Patch Facebook page.