Ocala-News.com has received dozens of letters and hundreds of comments in reference to a recent letter to the editor that suggested Ocala could use a Trader Joe’s grocery store.
“There’s plenty of room in the southwest area of Ocala for a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. I prefer Trader Joe’s, but a Costco would be extra nice too,” said Ocala resident Carole Stockman.
“Please bring a Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods to Ocala,” says Arlene Applewhite, who believes a lot of Ocala’s residents would like to eat healthier and general supermarkets can at times make that more difficult. Applewhite says Belleview could also use either grocer.
Ocala resident Kay Travis agreed, saying the many residents that are “health conscious” would enjoy an alternative to the other grocers in Ocala.
A few residents made mention of Fresh Market, which currently operates a location in The Villages.
“It would be nice to have a Fresh Market. I have never been in a Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. They seem to be pretty popular and either one would be fine for Ocala,” says Cathy Subda.
Ocklawaha resident Karen Kelson would rather see a Trader Joe’s than a Whole Foods, saying Trader Joe’s is reasonable and Whole Foods is pricier.
Multiple residents mentioned that they currently make the trip to Gainesville in order to shop at the Trader Joe’s location there.
“There are several thousand homes that will be built in Ocala, west of I-75. There is a dire need for another choice for shopping besides Publix,” says Ocala resident Lynne Sedotto, who travels the two-hour round trip to the Trader Joe’s location in Gainesville.
Michele Randles says she would like to see a Trader Joe’s near Porter Shores, a neighborhood off Baseline Road next to Rolling Greens.
“There is absolutely nothing here except for Dollar Generals, it would be nice to have something else close by,” said Randles in a letter.
If you would like to send a message to Trader Joe’s in hopes that their corporate offices might consider building a new store in Ocala, Request a Trader Joe’s in Ocala.