Mayor Charlie Hales Announces Natural Grocers Will Anchor MLK Boulevard Site Abandoned by Trader Joe's

Natural Grocers store in Flagstaff, Ariz.
By AARON MESH

Mayor Charlie Hales this morning announced Colorado-based grocer Natural Grocers will anchor a development on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard that Trader Joe's abandoned after backlash this spring.

"The challenges this development has faced have been well documented," Hales said in a statement. "But thanks to the determination of the public and private partners involved, we're now able to present a development that will benefit the residents of Northeast Portland, support neighboring businesses, introduce Portlanders to a high-quality, affordable grocer and revitalize a parcel of land that has sat dormant for 15 years."

The Portland Development Commission had completed a deal last November to sell a city-owned property at Northeast Alberta Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to California-based developer Majestic Realty as the site of a Trader Joe's.

The sale came at a $2.4 million discount, and the deal sparked backlash about the PDC's role in gentrifying historically African-American neighborhoods. 

Hales attempted to revive the Trader Joe's deal this spring, but couldn't woo back the California grocer.

Natural Grocers has stores in 14 states. Its locations include stores in Beaverton and Gresham.

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