Sad news, folks. (Or, if you hate change and/or traffic, good news.) Supervisor Scott Wiener has word that the much ballyhooed plan to get Trader Joe's to the Castro is dead. Via Facebook, the District 8 Supervisor announced the company's plan to kill the deal.

This morning, Trader Joe's decided not to pursue a new location at Noe and Market Streets (the old Tower Records site). After two years of on-again-off-again consideration of the site, Trader Joe's decided that the location was not going to work for its business model, one that is fairly reliant on automobile visits.

I'm disappointed about this outcome, because I do believe that Trader Joe's would have added a great food option for the neighborhood. However, I respect Trader Joe's decision and think highly of the company.

I will immediately begin working with the property owner to bring in one or more retailers that will add to the neighborhood. This is a priority for me.

However, a Mollie Stone's (which, as any Sunnyside or West Portal resident can attest, is a great store) will open this Wednesday, March 9, at 9 a.m. on 18th Street.

Last year, if you recall, Radio Shack made things difficult for Trader Joe's due to "many costly mechanical and electrical issues with the building." Now, the dated electronics store will remain put at its 2288 Market location, poised for a Tandy 1000 renaissance.