A recently filed California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control application shows Trader Joe's Company seeking an off-sale general liquor license for "Trader Joe's Store 299" at 3962 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Unit B, in San Diego's North Clairemont community near Bay Ho. The application was filed on June 3 and is currently listed as pending.
The address corresponds to a large retail space within Clairemont Town Square, a shopping center anchored by Vons at the intersection of Clairemont Mesa Boulevard and Clairemont Drive. While Trader Joe's has not yet publicly announced the project, the listed location appears to occupy a portion of the Burlington store space.
In recent months, Burlington downsized and consolidated to a smaller footprint within the shopping center, leaving behind a large portion that appears to have been subdivided for new tenants. The Trader Joe's liquor license filing is the first public indication that the specialty grocer intends to occupy part of the former big-box space.
Industry chatter and community speculation have also pointed to a possible HomeGoods location coming to the center, although no official announcement or public filings have yet confirmed those reports. If both projects move forward, the changes would represent one of the most significant transformations in the history of Clairemont Town Square.
The proposed Trader Joe's would create an unusual retail pairing by opening in a shopping center that already houses a full-service Vons supermarket. While traditional grocery operators often avoid locating near direct competitors, Trader Joe's has built its business around a distinctly different model focused on private-label products, specialty foods, prepared meals, imported items, and a curated shopping experience. Similar pairings exist elsewhere in Southern California, where Trader Joe's functions more as a complementary shopping destination than a conventional supermarket competitor.
Founded by Joe Coulombe in Pasadena in 1967, Trader Joe's has grown from a small California grocery concept into one of the nation's most recognizable specialty food retailers. The company now operates hundreds of locations across the United States and has steadily expanded throughout San Diego County over the past decade.
Known for its Hawaiian-shirt-clad employees, nautical-themed décor, and fiercely loyal customer base, Trader Joe's has become famous for products like Mandarin Orange Chicken, Unexpected Cheddar, Everything But The Bagel Seasoning, Cookie Butter, and its affordable wine selections.
The Clairemont project would add to the company's recent San Diego expansion efforts, which have included new locations in Santee, Poway, and Vista. The filing's designation as Store 299 suggests the project is sufficiently advanced to have received an internal store number and begun the licensing process required to sell beer, wine, and spirits.
Although an opening timeline has not yet been announced, the liquor license filing indicates that Trader Joe's is actively pursuing approvals for the location.
If completed, the new store would provide another convenient Trader Joe's option for residents of Clairemont, Bay Ho, Bay Park, Linda Vista, University City, and surrounding communities while adding another major draw to one of central San Diego's busiest shopping centers.
The proposed Trader Joe's would be located at 3962 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Unit B, within Clairemont Town Square in San Diego's North Clairemont community. For more information, visit traderjoes.com.
Originally published on June 4, 2026.
