Upper East Side Trader Joe's On Track For Fall 2021 Opening

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — For more than a year, Upper East Siders have waited impatiently for Trader Joe's to renovate the sprawling space under the Queensboro Bridge ahead of the supermarket's anticipated move-in.

Now, that date is approaching: Trader Joe's will open within months, the company says.

"While we don’t have an opening date just yet, we expect the store to open sometime this fall," spokesperson Rachel Broderick told Patch this week.

Patch first reported in February 2020 that Trader Joe's had applied to open up in the "Bridgemarket" space on East 59th Street and First Avenue, formerly home to a Food Emporium. The news caused a stir in the neighborhood, as the market commands a devoted following for its low prices and quirky products.

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Before starting construction, Trader Joe's had to get approval from the city's landmarks commission to alter the sprawling retail space, which features vaulted, tiled ceilings designed by Rafael Guastavino — famed for building the old City Hall subway station.

In 2015, the Food Emporium known as Manhattan's "most beautiful supermarket" closed after nearly 20 years in the Bridgemarket space. The craft store Michael's put together a bid to replace it, but those plans fell through.

Last fall, Patch reported that the company had cleared most procedural hurdles and was working toward a late 2021 opening — a timeline that appears to remain in place.

Five-year commitment

Trader Joe's currently has nine Manhattan locations, but none on the Upper East Side. Its most recent New York City opening was a new store in Long Island City, Queens.

City Councilmember Ben Kallos told Patch last fall that the supermarket's arrival came only after years of behind-the-scenes wrangling. After the Michael's move-in collapsed, Kallos said he began working with the state-owned entity that owns Bridgemarket, as well as local residents, to find a suitable tenant.

Early contenders included Whole Foods, Fairway, or a public food hall inspired by Chelsea Market, but Trader Joe's emerged as a favorite, he said.

Trader Joe's will be committing to the space through June 2026, with an option to renew until 2036, according to a copy of the lease that was shared with Patch.

The market under the Queensboro Bridge first opened in 1908 along with the bridge itself. That market closed in 1930 and finally reopened in 2000 as a Food Emporium, following years of renovations.

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Previous coverage from Patch:

• UES Trader Joe's Set For 2021 Opening After Yearslong Move-In
• New Trader Joe's On UES Gets Green Light From City
• Trader Joe's Applies For New UES Store