New Trader Joe's Slated For Murrieta Among 8 Planned For SoCal

MURRIETA, CA — A new Trader Joe's, slated for Murrieta, joins 24 new stores across the country, including eight in Southern California, the company announced.

The plans reflect a notably ramped-up pace for expansion.

A Trader Joe's spokesperson said the chain is opening new stores "faster than it has been in the last few years," according to a recent report in the Los Angeles Times. Soon, more Southern Californians can purchase Trader Joe's Mandarin orange chicken, dark chocolate peanut butter cups, and peanut butter-filled pretzel nuggets, among the most favored products in 2024.

The eight new Trader Joe's planned for Southern California include locations in Mission Viejo, Murrieta, Poway, Santee, South Pasadena, Northridge, Sherman Oaks, and Santa Clarita.

Though no new stores were immediately planned for Northern California, a new Trader Joe's opened in San Francisco on May 22. Other nearby stores were planned near Lake Tahoe, Reno, and Sparks, Nevada, a mere 45-minute drive.

Trader Joe's officials eyed a spot for a new store at the Murrieta Plaza Shopping Center at 40388 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, the city confirmed. The grocery store would replace the former Office Max location in the shopping center anchored by Sam's Club. Office Max closed at that location before the pandemic, according to the city.

"This is incredibly exciting for Murrieta," former city spokesperson Dominique Samario said in 2o23. "Trader Joe's is one of our top requested businesses. Our residents have to drive to Temecula to shop there, and we look forward to everyone in unincorporated areas coming to this location when it opens." The city is always trying to connect our residents with businesses that they most want to see, she said.

Will there be more Trader Joe's announced soon? A spokesperson told media outlets that "the chain is actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year."

There are currently 549 Trader Joe's across the nation, operating in 42 states, and Washington D.C.