Trader Joe’s spokeswoman won’t confirm, but city planners say
it’s all but a done deal
Morgan Hill – The land deal is complete and the conceptual drawings are in. Now Trader Joe’s will race against the clock to open in Morgan Hill before Thanksgiving.
A spokeswoman for the boutique grocery chain still won’t confirm that a Morgan Hill store is on the horizon, but city planners said Monday they’ve received word that the store has leased land near Dunne Avenue. Planners are also finalizing a zoning amendment to clear the way for the new 13,500-square-foot store.
Planner Jim Rowe said the store is aiming at opening before the holidays.
“As soon as we get their paperwork, we’ll start processing the application,” Rowe said. “The architect is still working.”
When Trader Joe’s opens, it will end years of waiting in a community that once bombarded the store’s headquarters with thousands of postcards begging the company to open a branch in Morgan Hill.Â
Soon, South County residents won’t have to drive to San Jose for $1.99 wine, marionberry sauce and easy-melting, pearl-sized mozzarella balls.
Based in southern California, Trader Joe’s has about 250 stores in 19 states. The company began life in 1958 as a small chain of convenience stores before converting to wine and cheese shops in 1967.Â
Many of the chain’s stores are located in and around densely populated areas. Last week, Trader Joe’s opened its first New York City outlet.
