Plans For New Trader Joe's Store In Shelton Approved By P&Z

SHELTON, CT — The Planning and Zoning Commission approved plans for a new Trader Joe's grocery store at the Fountain Square plaza in Shelton during their Jan. 8 meeting.

The application was unanimously approved by the commission after a discussion of the revised final site plans for the Bridgeport Avenue store, as well as a separate discussion about the store's proposed signage at the plaza.

Trader Joe's confirmed to Patch in November plans were in the works to open a new store somewhere in Shelton, however they declined to reveal where exactly in the city it would open if approved.

"We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year," a spokesperson said in November. "While we have plans to open a store in Shelton, CT, we do not have a location or timeline to confirm."

The application for a new Trader Joe's store on Bridgeport Avenue was accepted for review on Dec. 11, 2024, according to P&Z Commission Chairman Virginia Harger.

No official opening date has been set for the store, however documents submitted to the city that are accessible on its website indicate the company initially hoped to have the new location open this coming summer. It is unclear if that remains the planned timeline as of this week.

A request for comment from Trader Joe's was not immediately returned Tuesday.

A letter submitted to the city in December by Derby-based attorney Dominick Thomas Jr., who represented the applicant, noted the "specialty grocer" would measure about 13,800 square feet.

"Due to the fact that the tenant has requested that it be able to open this coming summer, I am requesting that the commission act on this application as soon as possible," the Dec. 5, 2024 letter reads.

City Engineer Rimas Balsys submitted a letter to the commission on Jan. 2 in which he noted "construction of Trader Joe's does not negatively impact the development as originally approved, therefore, I endorse the above cited project," referring to the final development plans for a mixed use development - Trader Joe's - at 801 Bridgeport Avenue.

Fire Marshal James Tortora also expressed his approval of plans for the proposed specialty grocer in a letter submitted to the commission on Jan. 7.

Trader Joe's currently operates nine Connecticut stores in Danbury, Darien, Fairfield, Glastonbury, Manchester, Orange, Stamford, West Hartford and Westport.

The store spokesperson also noted all Trader Joe's stores opening soon are listed on the company's website.

Fountain Square currently houses a number of well-known businesses, including Jersey Mike's, Crumbl Cookies, Club Pilates, Playa Bowls and Sugar Llamas.