Hello, Ms. Yupette,
I spoke with a super-friendly Trader Joes employee about TJ opening a new store in Clarendon. He told me that the amount of bribes TJ would have to pay to open a new store in DC was "impossible" and the amount of bribes TJ had to pay to Arlington's elected and unelected officials was "quite reasonable, less than a half million." He was also surprised that Arlington agreed to so little on-site parking, given that 25 - 35 TJ employees will be working in the store and only a few will be able to afford to live within Metro corridors. So I guess a half million dollars still goes a long way in Arlington.
Janet - 22201