It’s no secret that Trader Joe’s tries to keep new locations hush-hush.
But now, the company has taken at least one step toward actually opening a Riverdale store — and it took place during a public meeting.
On Thursday, the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services approved an off-premise beer retailer license for Trader Joe’s in Riverdale, just outside of Ogden. The grocery store was included in a list of new applicants, all of which were approved by members of the DABS Commission during its monthly meeting.
Following the meeting, Nakia Rohde, a company spokesperson, sent a statement to Building Salt Lake saying, “We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country, including a few in Utah, as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year. While we have plans to open a store in the area, we do not have a location or timeline to confirm.”
Rhode further clarified to say, “We currently have plans for a store in the area, near Riverdale.”
Before its location in Sugar House opened, Building Salt Lake reported that spilling the beans early on a Trader Joe’s location could land a developer or landlord a $250,000 fine from the company.
That didn’t stop Riverdale Mayor Braden Mitchell from announcing in December that a store was coming to town, going so far as unwrapping a Trader Joe’s sign shortly before Christmas.
Since then, the company has released carefully worded statements about the prospective location in Weber County. Rohde told ABC4 earlier this month, “At this time, we do not have a location confirmed in Riverdale.”
It’s not immediately clear when the new Trader Joe’s location could open in Riverdale — or be officially announced by Trader Joe’s corporate. Mitchell said during his December announcement that the store could open sometime this summer.
According to DABS code, an off-premise beer retailer license allows a business to sell beer that is under 5% alcohol by volume, though beer can not be consumed at the business. Other Trader Joe’s locations around Utah — of which there are five — also sell beer.
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