What Happens If You Give the Community Center to Joja?
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In Stardew Valley, a pivotal early decision involves the fate of the dilapidated Community Center. You’re presented with a choice: restore it by completing bundles, or sign on the dotted line with JojaMart and let them take over. Choosing the latter dramatically alters the game’s progression and experience. Instead of foraging and farming specific items to complete bundles, you’ll pay JojaMart directly to unlock the same rewards, effectively transforming the Community Center into the Joja Warehouse. The heart of the community gets a corporate makeover.
The JojaMart Route: A Detailed Breakdown
Opting for the JojaMart route means abandoning the traditional, community-driven approach to revitalizing Pelican Town. Instead of collecting specific items like foragables, crops, and fish for the Community Center Bundles, you’ll instead purchase JojaMart Memberships from Morris. This membership costs 5,000g, and unlocks the Joja Community Development Form. Completing this form entails paying JojaMart for each of the upgrades that the Community Center bundles would have unlocked:
- Pantry (Greenhouse): Replaces the Pantry bundles. Allows you to grow crops year-round.
- Crafts Room (Minecarts): Replaces the Crafts Room bundles. Restores the minecarts for faster travel.
- Fish Tank (Fishing): Replaces the Fish Tank bundles. Repairs the bridge to the tide pools on the beach.
- Boiler Room (Bus): Replaces the Boiler Room bundles. Repairs the bus, allowing you to travel to the Calico Desert.
- Bulletin Board (Pam’s New Job): Replaces the Bulletin Board bundles. Provides a new job for Pam, replacing her old one at the JojaMart.
While this approach might seem faster initially (especially if you have plenty of gold), it shifts the focus from exploring the game’s various activities to simply accumulating wealth. The game moves from a scavenger hunt to a matter of straight-up paying for the upgrades.
Consequences and Implications
Choosing the JojaMart route has several consequences that affect the game’s story and gameplay.
- Morris’s Expanded Role: Morris, the JojaMart manager, becomes a more central figure. You’ll interact with him frequently to purchase upgrades.
- Pierre’s Struggles: Pierre, the owner of the local general store, will lament the loss of business to JojaMart. This can affect your relationship with him and his family. His store closes on Wednesdays, and he will often mention that JojaMart is affecting his business.
- Less Community Spirit: Completing the bundles at the Community Center fosters a stronger sense of community. Choosing the JojaMart route can feel isolating, as you’re primarily interacting with a corporation rather than the townspeople.
- No Special Rewards: Each bundle at the Community Center rewards you with unique items as you complete them. You miss out on these rewards when you opt for the JojaMart route.
- Joja Cola Machine: After the Community Center is converted to the Joja Warehouse, a Joja Cola machine appears in the building.
Ultimately, the choice is about your preferred playstyle. If you enjoy optimizing your farm for maximum profit and prefer a streamlined approach, the JojaMart route might be appealing. However, if you value community interaction, exploration, and a sense of accomplishment through completing challenges, the Community Center is the better choice.
Why Players Choose JojaMart
Despite the negative connotations often associated with JojaMart, some players actively choose this route for several reasons:
- Speed: For experienced players, the JojaMart route can be faster than gathering the specific items required for the bundles. If you know how to efficiently generate income, paying for the upgrades can be quicker than foraging and fishing.
- Avoiding Frustration: Some bundles require specific items that can be difficult or time-consuming to obtain, especially during certain seasons. The JojaMart route eliminates this frustration.
- Challenge Run: Some players choose the JojaMart route as a self-imposed challenge, aiming to complete the game in a different way.
- Time Management: It allows you to focus more on other aspects of the game, such as maximizing your farm layout and animal husbandry, rather than spending time foraging for specific bundle items.
- Min-Maxing: Efficiency and pure profit are the drivers in this route, focusing on maximizing profits in the shortest time possible.
What Happens After Completing the Joja Route?
Once you’ve purchased all the Joja Community Development upgrades, Morris hosts a completion ceremony at the new Joja Warehouse. All of the townspeople show up to celebrate its grand opening. There is nothing more to do in the JojaMart route after completing all of the purchases. The ceremony signals the final change of Pelican town into a Joja town.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the JojaMart Route
1. Can I switch back to the Community Center after joining JojaMart?
No, once you purchase a JojaMart Membership, you cannot revert to the Community Center bundles. The decision is permanent for that playthrough. There is no going back. You can only complete the JojaMart route after you purchase the membership.
2. Does the JojaMart route affect my relationships with villagers?
Yes, it can. While most villagers remain neutral, supporting JojaMart can negatively impact your relationship with Pierre and those who strongly value the Community Center. Pierre is very vocal about the negative impact JojaMart has on his business.
3. Does choosing JojaMart lock me out of any content in the game?
Yes, it does lock you out of the unique rewards and sense of community associated with completing the Community Center bundles. You also miss out on the cutscenes triggered by completing each individual bundle.
4. Is the JojaMart route easier or harder than the Community Center route?
That depends on your playstyle. Some players find the JojaMart route easier because it bypasses the need to find specific items. However, it requires efficient money-making strategies, which can be challenging for new players.
5. What happens to the Community Center building after I join JojaMart?
The Community Center is converted into the Joja Warehouse. It becomes a storage facility for JojaMart, and there are no longer any community activities held there.
6. Does the JojaMart route affect the storyline?
Yes, it significantly alters the storyline. The focus shifts from restoring the community to embracing corporate influence. The narrative revolves around JojaMart’s expansion rather than community collaboration.
7. Do I still get to see the Junimos if I choose the JojaMart route?
No, the Junimos are associated with the Community Center and its magical nature. If you choose the JojaMart route, you won’t encounter them.
8. Are there any unique events or cutscenes exclusive to the JojaMart route?
Yes, there are a few unique cutscenes, primarily focused on Morris and the completion ceremony at the Joja Warehouse.
9. Does the JojaMart route change the ending of the game?
The ending sequence, specifically the evaluation by Grandpa’s ghost, is essentially the same regardless of which route you choose. The criteria for evaluation remain consistent.
10. Can I still complete all the achievements in the game if I choose the JojaMart route?
Yes, you can still complete all the achievements, although some may be more challenging or require a different approach. One achievement in particular will not be attainable if you go the JojaMart route: the “Local Legend” achievement. It will require you to restart the game with the Community Center route.
11. Does the JojaMart route affect my ability to marry and have children?
No, the JojaMart route does not affect your ability to marry a villager or have children. These aspects of the game are independent of your Community Center/JojaMart decision.
12. How much does it cost in total to complete the Joja Community Development Form?
The membership costs 5,000g. Then the Joja Community Development Form costs 40,000g for the Pantry, 25,000g for the Crafts Room, 20,000g for the Fish Tank, 40,000g for the Boiler Room, and 15,000g for the Bulletin Board. In total, the Joja Community Development Form costs 145,000g.
13. Can I still do quests for villagers if I go the JojaMart route?
Yes, you can still complete quests for villagers. While your relationship with Pierre may be strained, you can still improve your relationship with other villagers through quests and gifts.
14. Does the JojaMart route affect the festivals and events in Stardew Valley?
No, the festivals and events still occur as normal, regardless of whether you choose the Community Center or JojaMart route.
15. Can I still unlock Ginger Island content if I choose the JojaMart route?
Yes, the JojaMart route does not prevent you from unlocking and accessing Ginger Island content. The process for unlocking Ginger Island involves completing Willy’s boat repair, which can be achieved regardless of your choice regarding the Community Center.