Hiring difficulties may be forcing a delay of opening Trade Joe’s new UES store under the historic Queensboro Bridge. Bridgemarket was expected to welcome shoppers in October, but all that happened was the hanging of a banner about hiring. And there it stood, all month. But it wasn’t alone.
By David Stone
The Roosevelt Island Daily News
Now Hiring Difficulties
A job search on Trader Joe’s website displays multiple openings at the 59th Street site. Hiring difficulties are also apparent with similar notices out at nearby stores in Turtle Bay and Chelsea. Although the eagerly awaited chain is tight-lipped about missing the expected opening, struggles at finding and training workers for even above-average paying jobs is apparent.
News reports call it a nationwide phenomenon.
At this point, the chain gives up only a “this year” pledge for opening, but who knows? Not only have their own struggles held them back so far, but they compete with numerous other New York businesses for the same pool of workers.
Because Trader Joe’s is so hesitant about sharing their woes, we’re speculating here, but the evidence is clear. And nothing else appears as a genuine obstacle to opening Bridgemarket.
More from the Roosevelt Island Daily
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- Long Island City Rent Overcharge Lawsuit Seeks $50 Million Against DeveloperA Long Island City rent overcharge lawsuit seeks about $50 million from Rockrose Development, raising questions about billing practices, tenant protections, and legal oversight in NYC’s fast-changing rental market.
- Astoria E-Scooter Rider Dies After Northern Boulevard Crash in Long Island CityA 22-year-old Astoria e-scooter rider died after a Northern Boulevard crash in Long Island City. Details remain under investigation, highlighting micromobility risks on busy city streets.
- Hate Crime Charges Filed After Vandalism at Fresh Meadows Kosher Bagel ShopHate crime charges have been filed after vandalism at a kosher bagel shop in Fresh Meadows, with prosecutors alleging bias-motivated acts. Hearings are set in New York’s legal process.
- Midtown Subway Shooting Leaves 26-Year-Old Dead; Queens Incidents SeparateA shooting inside a Manhattan subway station left a 26-year-old dead. Police investigate the Midtown incident and separate shootings in Queens as commuters seek safety.
The WIRE: Two Futures, One Empty Chair
It is December 6, 2015, and David Stone is writing to Dr. Jack Resnick about a chair that will soon be empty. Dick Lutz is preparing to leave the Main Street WIRE, and Stone has been encouraged to ask whether he might replace him. Seven years of covering art, Cornell Tech and questionable practices inside Public Safety have taught Stone how the paper tells an Island story.
