The specialty grocery chain announced Thursday that it intends to open a new store within Clairemont Town Square in San Diego's Clairemont community while also adding a second Encinitas location in North County. Although Trader Joe's has not yet announced opening dates for either project, public records indicate both stores are actively moving through the licensing process.
The Clairemont location was first revealed through a California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control filing submitted earlier this month. The application identifies the future store as Trader Joe's Store 299 at 3962 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Unit B, within Clairemont Town Square near the intersection of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Clairemont Drive.
The new store appears poised to occupy a portion of the former Burlington space within the shopping center. Burlington recently downsized and consolidated into a smaller footprint, leaving a substantial portion of the building available for redevelopment. Industry chatter has also suggested additional retailers could be headed to the center as part of its ongoing transformation.
The announcement is likely to be particularly welcome news for Clairemont residents, many of whom have spent years lobbying for a Trader Joe's location in the community. Community efforts advocating for a Clairemont store date back more than a decade, making the project one of the area's most anticipated retail additions.
The company also confirmed plans for a new Encinitas location. Public ABC records show Trader Joe's has filed for a pending off-sale general liquor license for Trader Joe's Store 313 at 1590 Leucadia Boulevard in Encinitas. The application was submitted through the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control's San Marcos office and is currently listed as pending. The Leucadia store will become Trader Joe's second Encinitas location. The company currently operates a store at 115 North El Camino Real.
Known for its private-label products, affordable wine selections, seasonal specialty items, and fiercely loyal customer base, Trader Joe's has steadily expanded throughout San Diego County in recent years with newer locations in communities including Santee, Poway, and Vista.
The Clairemont location also creates an interesting retail dynamic, as it will operate within a shopping center already anchored by Vons. Similar arrangements exist elsewhere throughout Southern California, where Trader Joe's often functions as a complementary specialty grocer rather than a direct full-service supermarket competitor.
With the addition of the Clairemont and Encinitas stores, Trader Joe's will bring its San Diego County footprint to approximately 20 locations, further cementing the region as one of the company's strongest markets in California.
Although construction timelines and opening dates have not yet been announced, the combination of public confirmation from Trader Joe's and active state licensing applications suggests both projects are moving forward.
The future Clairemont store is planned for 3962 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Unit B, within Clairemont Town Square. The future Encinitas location is planned for 1590 Leucadia Boulevard in Encinitas. For more information, visit traderjoes.com.
Originally published on June 4, 2026.
