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I really love the Silver Lake Trader Joe's. Grocery shopping has never been so entertaining. There are always a couple of characters in there that inevitably knock me off my feet and remind me of how I live in an especially diverse community. While standing in the check out line, even though the crazy hippy that hasn't showered in 3 weeks totally grosses me out, I know that we share in our affection for unsweetened green tea and this hidden away locale we call home. On top of that, there is a super cute stoner cashier that I have the hugest crush on. Each week I arrive to the store wishing to see him, and if he's not there I hope that he hasn't been run over by a car. Seriously.
Located on Hyperion off of Rowena, the Trader Joe's in Silver Lake has been the scene of three hit and run accidents within the past four months. Back in January, Silver Lake resident Bill Winguard was hit by a car while using the crosswalk between the Trader Joe's and Gelson's located across the street.
After Bill was hit, Trader Joe's employee Adam Authier was the first to come to his aid until paramedics took Bill to the hospital where he later died. In what has been deemed a very odd series of events, a month later Adam Authier was hit by another car on Hyperion while bicycling home from work. He sustained numerous serious injuries and is still in recovery. A couple of weeks after Adam's accident another Trader Joe's crewmember was hit by a car and suffered a broken leg. Even though I carry a deep love for this market I can't hide the fact that it is indeed a death zone. How could so many accidents happen?
In short, the combination of the absent signal for the unlighted crosswalk, speedy drivers on a narrow street, and flurry of customers trying to get into the itty-bitty parking lot has created these gross incidents. The Silver Lake city council has already agreed to install a signal light where the cross walk now stands in order to eliminate accidents. They estimate that the installation will occur in July 2007. Finally, pedestrians and cyclists alike will have an opportunity to safely walk across the street with their groceries, instead of dodging cars. Since I drive to Trader Joe's I'm never too worried about getting hurt, yet there have been a couple of times where I could've potentially injured someone. Luckily, my stealth and excellent car maneuvering skills have aided in me not experiencing accidents. However, the signal for the crosswalk will allow less for chance, and more for secure design.
A safer SL Trader Joe's? Check. Happier customers and community? Check. Getting the stoner cashier to assist me to my car and then make-out? A work in process.
Photo by Sarah Ardalani
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wait, silver lake is a hidden away locale?
J/K...well not really, but anyway, i heard about this, and think it's fantastic. that intersection is possibly the worst in the city. now if only we can get them to extend the bike path on silverlake bl south of sunset...
Thank you for bringing attention to this! Many times I've decided against going to this store just because I was afraid of getting in a car accident, running over a pedestrian, or not finding a parking spot.....still it's worth the risk over paying 10 times as much at the Gelson's across the street...ugh
You do realize that there are two parking lots for trader joes? The "secret" lot is just pass hairdooz salon and always has spots available. Seriously, the walk is tantamount to walking to the far end of a regular supermakert parking lot. No fighting to get a slot next to the market and no padestrians crossing your path oblivious to you in their ipod nirvana.
I will make out with you, Sarah. You don't even have to buy groceries from me.
I'm glad they're finally putting in a signal light there. Hyperion is such a hassle anytime after 3:00. I hated it when I went to school there and I still hate it because now my brother goes to school there and I have to pick him up. Oddly, while my friends and I were in high school, we always went to Mayfair. Mostly for their potato wedges. Occasionally we'd go to Trader Joe's. Better sushi. Though, gotta say, we love their cheesecakes. That's where we always bought our cheesecakes for our band cheesecake sale. Man I miss their cheesecake. Hmmm...
If you think its bad now, just wait until Pinkberrys
opens up (very soon by the look of the work on the store), which is 1/3rd of a block away ....uugggh