Addictive snacks and frozen stir-fries are coming to Mid-City.
Officials have confirmed that Trader Joe’s is seeking an alcohol permit to open a second location at the corner of 23rd Street and Wilshire Boulevard, the company’s second location in Santa Monica. The first is located at Pico Boulevard and 32nd Street.
The grocery store will occupy the ground floor of a three-story building at 2300 Wilshire, which is still under construction. It will share the building, which stretches the length of the block, with 30 rental apartments and at least one other commercial tenant.
Santa Monica almost got another Trader Joe’s in 2001 but the Planning Commission said the proposed site at Wilshire and 12th Street didn’t have enough parking. 2300 Wilshire has more than enough parking spaces, however.
The store will open across the street from a Whole Foods and a few blocks away from upscale grocer Erewhon, which opened in April.
City of Santa Monica officials said Trader Joe’s filed the request to sell a full line of alcoholic beverages for off-site consumption on Jan. 8 and the Planning Commission will review the request sometime in March or April.
Santa Monica is already home to 11 grocery stores within the city’s 8.5 square mile area with several more just outside city limits. Potential development at the corner of 5th and Broadway has also been envisioned with a possible grocery tenant but the site is still years away from any new construction.
madeleine@smdp.com
