Will Peoria ever get a Trader Joe's? Here's what the company considers for new locations

Peorians have not been shy over the years about their love of Trader Joe’s.

For example, a 2021 Journal Star article asked the community about which chains they would like to see in the Peoria area. Trader Joe’s was a clear favorite.

The California-based grocery store can be found in 42 states plus the District of Columbia. An online store directory lists 22 locations in Illinois. All of these are found in the northern part of the state – with six storefronts situated in Chicago.

Currently, the closest stores to Peoria are found in Naperville, Batavia and Orland Park. Each location is a drive of more than two hours.

Trader Joe’s caused a buzz in 2020 when it confirmed Champaign-Urbana was among some 200 locations being considered for expansion. Over the past four years, however, no central Illinois storefront has come to fruition.

More: After other central Illinois store renovations, Kroger plans big updates in Peoria

So, what would it take to get a Trader Joe’s in Peoria?

This question has been explored in various episodes of the Inside Trader Joe’s podcast – including episodes 5 and 52. The episodes are titled “Please Won’t You Be My Neighborhood Store” and part one of “How To Make A Trader Joe’s,” respectively.

“We can't open every store that we'd like to open. Not all at once, certainly,” said Matt Sloan, one of the podcast’s hosts, in Episode 52. “And yet we're definitely a growth-oriented company. We’re interested in opening new stores and bringing a great Trader Joe's to great new neighborhoods.”

During the 2022 episode, the hosts walked through the process of searching for suitable locations with vice president of real estate and construction Donnie Martin. He said Trader Joe’s was looking into “somewhere between 200 and 219” places for potential stores.

Martin said when Trader Joe’s identifies an area for potential expansion, brokers look for locations that could work for the business. Sites are then evaluated for size, accessibility and a variety of other factors. Martin said, “It's gotta check every box.”

“Twenty percent of the site submittals that we receive pass our tests and get to an internal review where we really dig in,” Martin said.

Of these sites, he said roughly half will become Trader Joe’s stores.

Bryan Palbaum – now CEO – appeared in Episode 5 of the Inside Trader Joe’s podcast as then-chief operating officer. He said factors such as distribution and population also play a role in deciding where to open new locations.

“We certainly have certain numbers of households that we think we need to have that can support a successful Trader Joe's,” Palbaum said, “And, well, when we get to those numbers and it makes sense, then we'll open a store.”

In the episode, former CEO Dan Bane said staffing is another factor.

Trader Joe’s opened 11 new storefronts in 2022, according to podcast episode 59. By the end of 2023, Sloan said the grocery chain operated 545 locations.

While the company considers numerous factors before opening a store, the community can offer suggestions for new Trader Joe’s locations. The business’s recommendation page can be found at https://www.traderjoes.com/home/contact-us/request-a-store.

The page notes: "There are no guarantees, but being wanted matters to us.”

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This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Will Trader Joe's ever open a location in Peoria?