ABQrising

Love ‘em, hate ‘em or indifferent about ‘em — it doesn’t matter — the opening of any Trader Joe’s makes news. I mean, what other grocer offers gluten-free organic TV dinners precooked frozen meals and two dollar bottles of wine? Exactly.

So, we all know the the sole Trader Joe’s in Albuquerque has gone completely gangbusters from day one. Heck, that wasn’t too hard to predict. SoCal ex-pats + -(Trader Joe’s) = Demand. Not very surprising, TJ opened their first Burque store smack dab in the middle of the most affluent part of town. Tightly held private corporation — yeah, forgive them for being risk adverse. Anyway, after the Albuquerque store’s first week of operation the obvious question was, “Where are they opening the next one?”

Look, Trader Joe’s is a fifty year old company. If they wanted to be everywhere, they could have easily raised the capital and done it by now. …”So, where are they opening the next one?” Yeah, easy there cowboy. Let everything marinade for a minute… ah, Trader Joe’s gestation period is a little longer than Starbucks.

So, are we getting another Trader Joe’s? Well, yes… to the best of my shaky/what you might call/close enough to knowledge.

Trader Joe’s locations are popping up a little faster around the country. TJ isn’t committed to a one store per town policy. So, more store openings and a bona fide hit in Albuquerque… we’re getting another Trader Joe’s, right?

Yeah, those are good indicators, but we don’t know until we know — you know? Um, yeah. So here is what I know: no one has said there won’t be more Trader Joe’s in Albuquerque’s future. BAM! How is that for insight?!

We’ve all heard murmurs about a new grocery store in Huning Highlands East Downtown… a Whole Foods? Trader Joe’s? Tesco’s Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market? We’ve also all heard a grocer won’t move in because there aren’t enough people. (*Cough* Bullshit. Residential density, while an important part of the equation, isn’t the only part of this here algebra. When you have scores of people driving in and out of Downtown, to and from work everyday, you have plenty of available people dollar-backed consumers.) It isn’t that the city and developers haven’t tried; it’s just that nothing has happened, yet.

People are moving Downtown. Naysayers, do what you do, but folks are buying square footage in Albuquerque’s core — (relatively) expensive square footage, too. It is only a matter of time before Downtown strikes a grocer (besides Lowe’s). The hot action is still near Old Albuquerque High. While I like the idea, I have my doubts. Namely, traffic. Grocery stores are busy. Where are you going to put the cars? What are you going to do when the intersections back up? I’ve heard several folks suggest a store on Arno St. Well, the only space with the right footprint seems like the ABQ High Arts building. Nice pad, but you can’t have grocery store traffic there (unless you maybe block auto access to/from Central Ave.). I’ve seen other downtown grocery stores with underground or rooftop parking, but I think it’s safe to say we won’t get anything like that at Old ABQ High. Don’t get me wrong, I like the idea, but logistically I don’t see it happening. Someone, show me how it is suppose to work.

Back to Trader Joe’s. Last year I spent several months working in California. My temporary residence was across the street from a TJ. I’d stop in every two or three days to pick up some carbs, protein and other various nutrients and vitamins. Anyway, checking out one day, the manager rung me up. He wanted an ID for the booze. Scoping it, my bearded clerk voluntarily voiced, “New Mexico? Don’t see to many of those. You live in Albuquerque– we opened a store there not too far back. It’s doing hella good business. We’re going to open at least another there.”

And there you have it. Some store manager out in California says we’re getting another Trader Joe’s. It’s gotta be true, right? Yeah. Well, we’ll see.

I like the EDo idea. It’s the whole fruition part I’m waiting for— we’re waiting for. There has to be something behind it… you’ve heard it, I’ve heard it, we’ve all heard it. Golly-gee. Enough hearing, let’s see something.

In other grocery store news, I think we’re a day or two from seeing our second Whole Foods proper. Peep the Carlisle/Indian School Wild Oats, yo.

Nothing gives you street cred like shopping at chain retailer, right? (Ignore the cynicism — haven’t had my coffee yet.) Certain Duke City demographics have clamored for years, begging for urban chic clothiers to infiltrate Burque’s turquoise lined coffers. While ABQ Uptown has fancied a few foreigners, it’s failed to allure a number of the big guys: American Apparel, H&M, Urban Outfitters, and high-end label specialty stores. Well, folks, a new day might be ready to dawn. Through some strange sorcery, Urban Outfitters may actually materialize in Nob Hill.

I know. The legend has circulated for years, and, yes, many passed it off as mere myth. A myth? Maybe no more. Evidence? Urban Outfitters is looking for a store manager in Albuquerque. Granted, this is the only job posting for the Albuquerque manager position I can find. Granted, I can’t find the date for when this job posting was, uh, posted. But you don’t go around posting for positions you don’t intend to exist, right?

Fable, you say? Well, the idea isn’t as far fetched as you may want to believe. Late last year, Urban Outfitters, Inc. opened an Anthropologie in ABQ Uptown. A first dip in the muddied waters of the Rio Grande! Once you go Grande… (I’ll leave that one right there). Anyway, the Company is here; right in your own faux new urban retail center (read: outdoor mall). Do you really think we’re that far removed from an Urban Outfitters proper?

So what is this about Nob Hill? Well, I’ve heard from at least one Nob Hill business owner about some shifty UO operatives creeping around the ‘hood. Something about a spot really close to Il Vicino. Nah, there is no space there. Perhaps a new tenant at The Place? Perhaps. I haven’t heard any announcements on future tenants, yet. We’ll just have to wait and see. Uptown is clearly out. Too shiny, not enough vacant square footage, yet. Downtown? Nope. Downtown is having a chicken or the egg problem. Look, either folks need to move down there or shops need to open up down there. One has to come before the other. Stop waiting for some cosmic big bang to make it all happen at once. So, as it is, Downtown is out because risk adverse companies can’t figure out the chicken or the egg problem. …Nob Hill, it is.

How you like dem apples? Yeah, there is a lot of hocus pocus magic type stuff going on, but there is something going on. What exactly, eh…

Tonight the reality of Blue Dot Corporation’s Residences at Packard Place is, well, a little more real. Although I can’t find any new information online, KOB reports the success of Blue Dot’s current project, the Anasazi Downtown, has boosted the developer’s confidence in the ambitious Packard project. (I also can’t find a link on KOB’s site to this story — sorry.) Recalling from the report, 35 of the 45 Anasazi residences are already sold with the project expected to wrap up in another two months.

First announced in June 2007, the purposed Residences at Packard Place, a pair of 30 story tall towers, will include 20 stories of residence, eight levels of parking, one level for “resident amenities” (10th floor), and ground level retail and commercial. If built, the Packard Place towers will be the tallest structures in New Mexico.

I have to admit, I was hopeful but weary when I first heard the Packard news back in June. Our last (and really only) major skyscraper went up in 1990 — 18 years ago. When Packard was first announced, the plan called for the towers’ completion by 2010 — 20 years after the Albuquerque Plaza and Hyatt Regency Albuquerque were built. While this latest bit of news is encouraging, and the city supposedly supports Packard, there is a huge part of me that wants to “see it before I believe it.” The success of Anasazi is fantastic and only strengthens Blue Dot’s impressive resume, but 30 stories is a lot bigger than 9 (21 stories bigger — math whiz, this guy).

In any event, this current turn of events should further fuel the hopeful optimism may Burqueños have for Downtown.

UPDATE: The ABQ Journal ran a story this past Sunday on Anasazi Downtown. In the article, Vincent Garcia of Blue Dot is quotes as saying the company is strongly considering turning Packard into a 35 to 40 story tall building.

Mesa del Sol just scored the metro area another 1,200 jobs. The ABQ Tribune reports Fidelity Investments, America’s largest mutual fund company, is set to open shop in Mesa del Sol in 2009. They’re constructing a 200,000 sq. ft. facility, a nice compliment to the other 200,000 sq. ft. plant (PDF) announced earlier this week. Over 1,500 (future) jobs created in one week. Not bad, Duke City.

According the the Trib, the Governor is expected to make a statement to the press sometime this afternoon regarding MdSol’s newest occupant. Hopefully he’ll tell us what kind of work Fidelity is bringing to town. (It better not be a call center.)

So, maybe there is something to that Forbes list, eh?

Perhaps you’ve travel overseas recently. Europe, by chance? …And you saw those teeny little cars all over the place. No, not the Mini, the smart. Well, soon you’ll be able to scoop up a smart fortwo right here in the Duke City. smart plans to have 68 dealerships open across the U.S. by the end of January. So where is our dealership? Look no further than 1220 S. Renaissance Blvd. NE. I believe the dealership is taking the place of the motorcycle dealership/bar and grille near the Acura and Infiniti dealership. Wonderful, no?

Yup. For a little more than $11k you too can be ’smart.’ Take that, college.

The Denver Post hearts the Sunport. A recent travel piece in the Post touched all the normal tourist destinations, but completely lauded the Duke City’s airport:

To race through the Sunport upon arrival would be to miss one of this country’s coolest airports. Check out the art, 113 permanent pieces in all, as well as the small display of old black-and-white photographs of the Sunport from more carefree times. Even the Southwestern-style seats at the gates, the lounges and computer workstations (convenient power strips line the elevated tables) are fantastic, and note that Wi-Fi is free throughout.

Architecturally, the Sunport completely encapsulates local style. Sure, it may not have the grandest restaurants, but I’m glad local eateries like Garduño’s and La Hacienda have a presence. Art work and advertisements are well balanced. The free Wi-Fi — super bonus points. Nice job, Sunport.

Corporate do-gooders, Clear Channel and the FBI have teamed up to broadcast Albuquerque’s most-wanted criminals on those snazzy new digital billboards. The crime fighting tandem have agreed to partner up in 20 major cities with Burque making the cut.

InformationWeek:

The billboards, which will be placed near high-traffic areas, would enable the bureau to highlight the people it’s looking for the most in a given area, whether they’re violent criminals, kidnap victims, missing children, or terrorists. Pictures of victims or suspected criminals could be posted shortly after a crime is committed or a child is taken.

So, which local politician will grace our billboards first? I kid, I kid. Well, kind of. (Spoke too soon?)

Inspiration for the title of this post provided by local band Your Name In Lights. Thanks.