Trader Joe’s Employees Petition to Reopen Seattle Store

In recent weeks, scores of retailers have issued statements and pledged donations in support of social justice. On June 6, Trader Joe’s joined the movement, communicating a message “in support of our black crew members and customers” on its website.

But a group of crew members at Trader Joe’s Capitol Hill store at 1700 E. Madison St. in Seattle, says the company isn’t doing enough to “tangibly” support the black community.

According to the Save Trader Joe's Store 130 website and petition started by Trader Joe’s Capitol Hill employees, on June 11, dozens of workers at the location informed store management that they would be participating in a June 12 protest organized by the local chapter of Black Lives Matter. Anticipating that broad participation in the protest would lead to staffing issues, store managers decided to close the store early on June 12.

Workers were reportedly assured that participating in the protest would be considered an excused absence and would not result in any disciplinary measures. “But on the morning of June 12, a representative from Trader Joe’s corporate called the store to ask about the early closure,” according to the Store 130 website. “Unsatisfied with the rationale for the early closure, corporate informed store management that the store would be closed indefinitely, effective immediately.”

The group of Store 130 workers, who say they wish to remain anonymous, has been petitioning to reopen the location, citing financial hardship to crew members and a need for continued health insurance, especially during the pandemic. The petition received 22,000 signatures in just 24 hours, according to the website.

Trader Joe’s officials tell a different story regarding the store’s closure. In an email to WGB, the company said the Capitol Hill store is closed for a remodel, and that, as is always the case when a store is closed unexpectedly, its crew members continue to be paid for their scheduled shifts.

“To be clear, the only reason our Capitol Hill store was closed was because there were not enough crew members to run it,” said Kenya Friend-Daniel, Trader Joe’s public relations director, in an email to WGB. With more than two dozen crew members planning to participate in the June 12 protest, it was not possible to keep the store open.

Several factors, including flagging sales in recent months due to COVID-19 and ongoing safety and security issues at the Capitol Hill store, contributed to its continued closure after June 12.

According to the company, management communicated with staff that given the history of safety issues at that store, they would close the store temporarily to evaluate its viability. While the store was closed, a remodel plan to address the safety and security issues, including reworking the store entrance and exit flow and adding security cameras, emerged. 

At this time, Friend-Daniel said, the Capitol Hill store is set to reopen July 1.