Trader Joe's plans two more Phoenix stores

Trader Joe's is preparing two additional Phoenix locations, one on East Thomas Road and another at Desert Ridge Marketplace. The stores would add to a local roster that already includes Ahwatukee, Paradise Valley and Town & Country Shopping Center.

Trader Joe's is moving ahead with two more Phoenix stores as its Arizona presence continues to grow. A liquor license filing lists 4519 E. Thomas Road for one planned location, while another store is marked as coming soon at 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Suite 1030, inside Desert Ridge Marketplace.

The Desert Ridge Marketplace store would place Trader Joe's in a shopping center owned by Vestar. If both projects open, shoppers on the Thomas Road corridor and in north Phoenix would have closer access to the chain's grocery aisles.

Trader Joe's already has three Phoenix locations: 4025 E. Chandler Blvd. in Ahwatukee, 4726 E. Shea Blvd. in Paradise Valley and 4821 N. 20th St. at Town & Country Shopping Center. Across Arizona, the chain operates more than 20 stores.

Joseph Coulombe founded Trader Joe's in 1967. The company is known for its private label groceries, produce, flowers, specialty items and seasonal products, and the two planned Phoenix stores would bring that format into more parts of the city.