ROCKWALL — A grassroots campaign hopes to draw retail development to the growing town of Rockwall.
Jane Sadek, a local resident and community activist, is working to attract chain grocery store Trader Joe's to town. Sadek has launched a Facebook campaign called Rockwall Needs a Trader Joe’s.
"There's 2,930 likes, and 26 [people] have signed up this week," Sadek said.
It’s simple move to attract a retailer that may work. On the grocer's website, there’s a form customers can fill out to request a store in their area. They add a disclaimer:
"There are no guarantees, but being wanted matters to us."
Rockwall City Council member Scott Milder said this type of grassroots movement to draw development is new to him.
"Rockwall is at a place with its history now where we should probably consider more retail development and retail recruiting,” he said.
Milder said his city has a way to attract and entice industrial business through the Rockwall Economic Development Corporation, but says that corporation does not focus on attracting retail business.
He said the Council will work toward pursuing the grocer if they respond to the petition. Milder is currently listed as the only contact on the “Rockwall Needs a Trader Joe’s” Facebook page.
"Any time a new retailer comes into a city it's good for the city's economy, it brings in more revenue to the city, it draws more people into the city, people from outside, from as far as 100 miles away," Milder said.
The petition has been around for more than a year, but Sadek says that in the last few months it has nearly doubled in size.
“It’s more than a grocery store, it’s about community, what do we want here?” she said.
And if they can pull it off, she hopes it's a sign that residents have more power than they think.