Marion County residents seeking access to one of the world’s most popular specialty grocery stores have been overlooked once again as the retailer focuses its latest expansion efforts on coastal Florida markets.
Trader Joe’s has officially opened new grocery stores in Daytona Beach (November 14) and Melbourne (December 1). The company is also opening two other locations later this month in Kingwood, Texas (Dec. 5) and Columbia, South Carolina (Dec. 12).
The new stores in Central Florida represent the latest phase of the company’s growth in the region. While Marion County is a growing market, the retailer continues to prioritize areas closer to major metropolitan or coastal hubs for its new developments.
Founded in 1958, Trader Joe’s was purchased by Theo Albrecht, co-founder of Aldi, in 1979.
Today, Trader Joe’s and Aldi Nord are sister companies that are owned by three companies registered to the Albrecht family.
There are currently over 600 Trader Joe’s locations across the United States. The state of Florida features 27 stores, with a significant number concentrated in the Central Florida region.
This year, the company has opened multiple stores around the country, including new locations in Washington, Tennessee, Alabama, California, Maryland, Connecticut, and Virginia, among other states.
The closest available Trader Joe’s to Ocala and Marion County is located in Gainesville at 3724 SW Archer Road, with other nearby options in Orlando and Winter Park.
For Marion County to successfully attract a Trader Joe’s location, residents will have to directly petition the company, as its the primary method the retailer uses to gauge local interest and viability.
Interested residents seeking to advocate for a store in Marion County can do so by visiting the Request a Trader Joe’s in My City form available on the company’s website.
Do you frequent the Trader Joe’s in Gainesville or Winter Park? Share your comments or, if you have more to say on the topic, write a letter to the editor.