For St. Johns County shoppers, the grocery options are beginning to pile up.
Specialty grocer Trader Joe's is headed to St. Johns County, according to development plans. This new location will put the popular chain in the middle of one of Northeast Florida's busiest retail corridors.
Is Trader Joe's really coming to St. Johns County?
Yes, Trader Joe's is planned for the Legends Landing retail development at World Commerce Center in St. Johns County, according to development plans. The store is identified as a 12,500-square-foot building on a plan prepared by civil engineering firm England-Thims & Miller.
Where exactly will the new Trader Joe's be located?
Legends Landing sits directly behind Costco, Buc-ee's and Bass Pro Shops along International Golf Parkway, inside the larger World Commerce Center development near Interstate 95 in St. Augustine.
Legends Landing is a planned 40-acre mixed-use retail development along International Golf Parkway in World Commerce Center in St. Augustine, and the site sits adjacent to established regional anchors including Costco, Buc-ee's, Home Depot and Bass Pro Shops.
Who is developing the new Trader Joe's in St. Johns County?
Fort Lauderdale-based Stiles Retail Group, together with Jacksonville-based Cantrell & Morgan and Charlotte-based FCA Partners, acquired roughly 93.1 acres across six parcels at World Commerce Center for $45 million.
The sale, which closed earlier this year, includes the Legends Landing parcel where Trader Joe's would go.
What other stores and restaurants are planned for St. Johns County?
Trader Joe's won't be alone in this new development.
Plans also identified Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Hobby Lobby, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen and Floor & Decor as planned tenants, along with a 140,500-square-foot anchor building that has not yet been named on site plans.
When will the St. Johns County Trader Joe's open?
There's no confirmed opening date yet. Although the plans identify several potential tenants, a construction timeline and opening dates have not been confirmed.
Trader Joe's has also not listed the location on its official store finder, which typically happens once a lease is signed and permitting is underway.
Why is International Golf Parkway getting so much new retail?
The area has become one of the fastest-growing commercial corridors in Northeast Florida.
The intersection of Interstate 95 and International Golf Parkway sees roughly 121,500 vehicles a day, according to marketing materials for the site, and over 13,000 residential units are planned or under construction within a five-mile radius, making the corridor attractive to national retailers already anchored by Costco, Buc-ee's, Bass Pro Shops and Home Depot.
Is this the only new Trader Joe's coming to Florida?
No, Trader Joe's has continued expanding across Florida, with nearly 30 stores already open statewide. The chain recently announced a new Sarasota location and has a location slated for the Waterford Lakes area of Orlando.
What's the closest existing Trader Joe's to St. Johns County?
The nearest Trader Joe's to St. Augustine and St. Johns County is in Jacksonville Beach, but there is also a Duval location in the Mandarin neighborhood.
Shoppers in St. Johns County currently have to make that drive, often 30 minutes or more, for their Trader Joe's fix, which is part of why the Legends Landing plans have generated so much local buzz.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Trader Joe’s planned for new retail development in St. Johns County
