The Trader Joe’s in Hoboken could get a Hudson County neighbor as the grocer is reportedly planning a Jersey City store. Photo by Chris Fry/Jersey Digs.
A local community group set Jersey City ablaze over the weekend with news that Trader Joe’s is close to a deal that would bring the grocer Downtown and further digging has revealed a few hints as to where the company could be opening.
The buzz all began when the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District posted on Instagram about the grocer’s possible arrival. “Rumor has it that Trader Joe’s is in the final stages of signing a lease right here in Downtown Jersey City,” read the post, adding that the plan is to open the location in 2026.
An exact location wasn’t disclosed as to where TJ’s was opening, but a closer look at city records from last year include a few interesting indications. The most prominent involve 55 Hudson Street, a 58-story tower being built by Tishman-Speyer that began work in 2023.
55 Hudson Street is topped out an adding its facade in Jersey City. Photo by Chris Fry/Jersey Digs.
The development is in the home stretch of construction and per city records, the developers applied for a deviation for the maximum number of off-street retail parking spaces provided last year. An application was eventually approved by the city’s Planning Board last July to increase the number of retail parking spaces from 31 to 62 spaces, also decreasing the parking for the building’s residential component.
In a letter submitted with the application, the developers explained their rationale for the changes to the retail parking component that were being sought.
“Given the anticipated user of the retail space, the demand for retail parking to serve the greater downtown Jersey City neighborhood is generally larger than the demand residential only parking for future residents,” the letter reads.
It is noteworthy that nothing in the application specifically states that Trader Joe’s is a potential tenant at the property, and a transcript of the Planning Board meeting does not mention the grocer as a tenant.
Rumors have abounded about Trader Joe’s in Jersey City for years but have yet to come to fruition. One development at 444 Washington Street caused a ruckus in 2019 when a similar logo and name was used on a rendering of their building, although the entire project has yet to even be built.
Jersey City residents surely remember the long-running Whole Foods saga that included several false starts, so perhaps we should strap in for several months (or years?) of grocery-driven drama in the future.