Trader Joe’s, a value-priced gourmet food chain famous for its “two-buck Chuck” bargain wine, has filed a retail tax application for a South Hulen Street address in Fort Worth, according to the state controller’s website.
Chain spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki did not respond to a call for comment, but in May said Trader Joe’s was seeking store sites throughout Texas, mentioning the competitive Dallas-Fort Worth and greater Houston regions.The address, 2701 South Hulen, want was the location of Ronnie’s an upscale wine store and bakery. The building is now occupied by Dorian’s Interior Design, which was closed when contacted Tuesday evening.The application was dated Oct. 10. The Dallas Business Journal, which first reported the move on-line, noted that it had a Dec. 15 start date, but doesn’t necessarily need to open then."We’re excited about bringing Trader Joe’s to the wonderful cities, towns and neighborhoods in and around Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and beyond," Mochizuki said five months ago. "We are actively looking for sites and we’re anxious to identify some great locations and begin hiring crew members."The spokesperson wouldn’t say how many stores would open or give a timetable.The 365 Trader Joe’s stores have built a loyal following for having offered drinkable Charles Shaw-label wines at $2 - now $3 or more, depending on transportation costs - as well as gourmet condiments, sauces and high-quality, low-price frozen prepared food.Though much smaller in size, Trader Joe’s would be toe-to-toe competition for Sprouts Farmers Market, part of a Phoenix-owned chain specializing in natural foods which opened further down South Hulen this January. Also aimed at similar customers are Central Market, the natural food and gourmet supermarkets owned by San Antonio-based H.E. Butt Grocery Co., and Austin-based Whole Foods.The closest Trader Joe’s to Fort Worth is in Leawood, Kan., 455 miles away.The chain is owned by the traditionally closed-mouthed Albrecht family of Germany, which also runs the steep-discount Aldi chain.The family split its northern and southern European holdings between feuding brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht decades ago.Aldi Süd (South), run by Karl until his retirement, operates the chain’s U.S. namesake stores. Aldi Nord, run by Theo until his death, acquired Trader Joe’s in 1979, and the chain is reportedly still managed independently of the U.S. Aldi stores.Aldi entered North Texas in the spring of 2010.Barry Shlachter, 817-390-7718
