Memphis— You’ve probably seen Midtown resident Jay Effkay standing in the middle of the street at Union and Cooper, shouting at traffic and waving a homemade sign with the all-cap message “TRADER JOE’S IS NEAR.”
“Oh yes, I am sure Memphis is getting a Trader Joe’s,” Effkay proclaims, brandishing printed copies of a blog entry he posted online two weeks ago. “So it is written, when Fresh Market builds a store at the Ike’s location by Playhouse on the Square, the stage is set for Trader Joe’s.”
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“It is only logical,” Effkay continues, carefully rationing out a handful of banana chips he obtained from his last “Joe’s Run” to Nashville, “When the Good Trader looks down and sees a Fresh Market flourishing in Midtown, he’s GOT to come, right?
“And Midtowners must do all of their shopping at the new Fresh Market as soon as it opens. The stakes are just so high,” Effkay proclaims affecting a tone of grave foreboding. “So high,” he repeats. “So very, very high.”
Effkay has previously proclaimed the revitalization of Overton Square, renovations at the zoo, and various weather conditions to be heralds for a Trader Joe’s store that has not yet materialized.
When asked why getting a Trader Joe’s is so important, Effkay snickered condescendingly and said “You’ll know when you know.”
Joey Hack is a regular Fly on the Wall contributor, and is a member of the Wiseguys improv troupe. Additional reporting by Davis Christopher.
