I just spoke with Brant Sharrock from Trader Joe's in MA. He said TJs would love to come to Evanston. I mentioned the location at Asbury & Oakton to him and he said he would check it out. He suggested that we contact the local representative, Andy Bulson to plead our case. His Email is: abulson@midamericagrp.com. One of his concerns was if there would be enough parking at that location but it sounds like 50+ would work well.

TJ UPDATE!From City staff: Please read
 
Mr.Sharrock had his Midwest real estate head call me back immediately. His name is : Mike Deighan, 11 state Midwest district rep. Phone: (248) 569-7800/ e-mail: mdeighan@timberlinere.com. Mike advised me that he is fairly new in the position and that they have been trying to get a TJ into Evanston for six years. I gave a brief description of the site although he couldn't place the intersection. He has several brokers in each state who report to him directly. Normally they have a 75 parking space standard, but that number includes employee parking. But if employees had other parking options (read street) and could use public transportation the issue can be mitigated.

I advised him that we would take particular efforts to increase site parking to its absolute maximum. Mike also stated that the way we initiated the contact with TJ was right on target, first to Mr. Sharrock who then decides to forward the inquiry to the proper district.
 
Mike told me to contact his Oakbrook, Illinois broker: Mr. Andy Bulson, VP Mid America. Phone: (630) 954-7376/e-mail: abulson@midamericagrp.com. to
the proper district.
 
Mike told me to contact his Oakbrook, Illinois broker: Mr. Andy Bulson, VP Mid America. Phone: (630) 954-7376/e-mail: abulson@midamericagrp.com.... He thought Mr. Bulson was going to be out of town next week.

I still think a copy of your mail should go to Sharrock.

On a more disgusting but now we are all safer note: Music was placed in the Audy Home yesterday.

Ann,
Couldn't some Trader Joe employees park in the Chute lot?

Thank you Ann for getting the Trader Joe's contacts going. It would be great to have them in the neighborhood. If they don't come, I wonder if the people who own Marketplace on Oakton in Skokie would be interested in the space for an additional location, even though it is smaller. They could even still call it Marketplace on Oakton!

/m4500
/m4873

Re Music, this is Glenford Lewis who was a 700 block of Dobson neighbor and a Brummel Park regular.

Do the police not want to have anything to do with fireworks? Twice I have called in the last week and both times I waited for 15+ minutes and no police showed up. The group that is currently hanging out outside the 3-flat (720?) on Brummel near the alley by Custer has been exploding very loud firecrackers that produce a lot of gunpowder smoke for the last hour. One of the guys is wearing a long-sleeve black shirt that has a Frosted Flakes take-off image on the front. They are still out there.

Last year, twice, firecrackers exploded in the street right in front of me -- once I was in my car and once on my bike. Either time could have ended very badly. I don't want this to happen again!

What was Music charged with? I know he's a troubled kid, but he was one of three teens (over the entire summer) who came to a neighborhood meeting, where he took part in the discussion respectfully. I hope he gets the help he needs and straightens up.

Trader Joe's YES in Evanston. What a great idea. we totally support it!

Music was charged last month with a drug charge and now attempted aggravated assault on a police office. What is it about this bad apple that has you all fooled. Of course he needs help - all juvenile criminals need help. For god's sake he is selling drugs out of his home with his mom with little babies in the household. Bad rap? Come on - we send someone in to make buys before the bust. He and mom failed both tests. Now he tried to hurt a cop. What part of this kid don't you understand.

Kim - sign up for the TJ newsletter and send a message to the broker for TJ see /m4870 /m4872

On some of the postings here on crime - the arrested individuals are being refer to as "kids" = I assume they are all adults since if they were "kids" thier names could not be released?

Are these individuals all former students in our public school system?

Ann you make a very good point about the building owners turning thier buildings from rental to condo. The faster the number of rental units falls that is they are convert to condos with owners the more likely criminal activity will decrease. I think the number of rental units in this town should drop from almost 50% to maybe 20% or less.

Junad - can you please send me your email address annrainey8@aol.com

I went to the TJ site and wrote my plea. Thanks for mobilizing us -- this would be so great!

While walking home from domincks yesterday afternoon the chicago police arrested some youths at elmwood (southside of )and howard. three handcuffed to the gate outside of strip mall waiting another squad. i do not know the nature of that call, but was wondering when it would happan,,, lots of people hanging out in front for along time..

last year the store sold fireworks and reported to the police about this. they stopped selling have not seen this year the practice going on. now seen the Dollar Tree on western and howard selling fireworks in chicago maybe this the new place where evanston youths get theirs?

thanks for the info, Lowell.