Specialty Grocer Searches For New Location In Major FL Metro Area, Report Says

TAMPA, FL — Trader Joe’s is looking for a second location in the Tampa area, the Tampa Bay Business Journal first reported.

Real estate sources told TBBJ that the new store would help relieve the specialty grocer’s busy South Tampa location. The West Swann Avenue store opened its doors in 2014.

A spokesperson for Trader Joe’s confirmed that the company is looking for new opportunities across the nation, but didn’t name Tampa as a specific location on the list of areas they’re considering.

The national grocery chain is known for selling “the best quality products at the best everyday prices,” as well as unique foods and beverages, the company said.

Matt Sloan, vice president of marketing, recently discussed the meticulous process of finding locations for new stores on a recent podcast, RetailWire reported.

“We’d like to be in neighborhoods all around the country, but it takes time,” Sloan said. “We’re not going to rush it because rushing it would result in stores that don’t live up to our expectations or quite honestly, to our customers’ expectations.”

Among the metrics the brand looks at when selecting a new site are population density, parking and distinctive real estate opportunities, rather than taking over spaces previously occupied by other grocery store chains.

The average traditional Trader Joe’s store is about 15,000 square feet, according to CSP.

If a second Tampa store opens, it would be the sixth Trader Joe’s in the greater Tampa Bay area.

The latest location opened in Palm Harbor at 33597 U.S. Highway 19 N. in December.

The other locations, in addition to South Tampa, are St. Petersburg, Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota.

Trader Joe’s launched in 1967 in the Los Angeles area and has since expanded to more than 575 stores in 42 states and Washington, D.C.