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Back in August of 2022, New Yorkers were shocked to hear about the sudden closure of Trade Joe's Wine Store at 138 East 14th Street by Union Square.
The company’s only such outpost in New York (New York state only allows one wine license per entity so the grocery chain can only sell wine in a single one of its locations) has always been a favorite among college students shopping at the grocery store next door and fans of the Two Buck Chuck wine offered on-site.
Trader Joe's never really explained the unexpected development.
“We have been operating our small Wine Shop in the Union Square neighborhood for over 15 years, and we thank you for all the business and support throughout the years,” read a printed sign in the window of the shop back then. “It is now time for us to explore another location that will allow us to optimize the potential of our one and only license to sell wine in the state of New York.”
Given the fact that no other wine shop actually opened since then, many began speculating about the real reasons behind the decision to close.
Patch reported last week that the National Labor Relations Board’s counsel accused Trader Joe’s of union busting.
“The complaint stems from an unfair labor practice charge by United Food and Commercial Workers International Union officials, who contended that Trader Joe's higher-ups abruptly—and illegally—closed the store because its workers tried to unionize,” reads the article.
Turns out that, at least according to sources that spoke to Patch, the restoration of the 14th Street wine shop would be "one of several remedies" for the accusations.
In addition to the reopening of the wine shop, the council is asking for the store’s “employees to be made whole union access once operations are restored, a notice posting at all Trader Joe’s locations where Wine Shop employees were transferred and a notice mailing to all employees working at the Wine Shop when it closed.”
Hearings and legal meetings still have to take place and, if recent disputes concerning union-busting accusations are of any indication, we’ve got a long way to go.
For what it's worth, we wish all the employees well and hope to see Trader Joe's Wine Shop reopen soon under good work environment auspices.
Trader Joe's and the National Labor Relations Board did not respond to requests for comments.