Berkeley protests Trader Joe’s

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MARK AUSTIN THOMAS: Specialty grocer Trader Joe’s has 250 stores nationwide and it’s expanding fast, but it’s found some protestors in Berkeley, California. Rachel Dornhelm reports.

RACHEL DORNHELM: Today the Berkeley zoning board is scheduled to vote on a multi-use project including a Trader Joe’s, but some neighbors in the semi-residential area are fighting it.

They say the developer is using the popularity of Trader Joe’s to get a five-story, 150-unit complex approved.

Stephen Wollmer lives 250 feet from the site and says he’s protesting so the company will ante up for necessary parking and city services.

STEPHEN WOLLMER: Under the terms that are offered we don’t think it’s a very good deal for the city and we think it sets a very bad precedent.

Trader Joe’s started in southern California in 1958. In 1977, the owners of German multinational Aldi purchased it.

New stores are opening soon in Illinois, Georgia and Nevada.

I’m Rachel Dornhelm for Marketplace.