There are five Trader Joe’s stores across Seattle including the U District, Queen Anne, West Seattle, Ballard, and Capitol Hill — but only the Madison store no longer has whiskey, gin, and vodka for sale.
A decade after the grocery added hard liquor to its aisles after the end of Washington’s prohibition on grocery sales, Trader Joe’s Store #130 has removed spirits from its shelves.
A call to the store Wednesday afternoon confirmed the change. We have not yet heard back from the company’s Southern California headquarters about what led to the decision. A CHS reader said that employees have told shoppers that theft has been an issue but safety issues for employees were also part of the decision.
The change comes as the latest minor inconvenience and change in the day to day for shoppers and customers on Capitol Hill and in Seattle spurred by concerns about crime and safety. Continue reading
