Trader Joe’s checks out West Palm Beach

Trader Joe’s appears to be doing some shopping of its own. The Monrovia, Calif.-based grocery chain is considering Lake Worth or West Palm Beach for a fifth outpost in Palm Beach County, the Palm Beach Post reported, citing unnamed sources. More specifically, executives have been checking out the now-closed Winn-Dixie grocery store at 500 Belvedere Road and multiple spots along Dixie Highway.

“They’ve always made statements saying they’re committed to coming somewhere in the downtown area,” said Raphael Clemente, executive director of the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority. “But they wouldn’t say where and they wouldn’t say when.”

Trader’s Joe has plans to open stores in Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Wellington and Palm Beach Gardens, slated to open next year. It announced a new store in Broward County’s Pembroke Pines last week. A 12,500-square-foot Pinecrest outpost is also set to open next year, as previously reported. [Palm Beach Post] — Mark Maurer