It’s official: Trader Joe’s is coming to Gresham

Published 8:55 am Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Trader Joe's filed a commercial permit to open a location in Gresham. 

After decades of dreaming and countless meetings and pitches by Gresham city leaders, Trader Joe’s is finally coming to East Multnomah County.

The specialty grocer has filed for a commercial permit to occupy the vacant building at 2083 N.E. Burnside Road in Gresham. The location, formerly a Big Lots in the Oregon Trail Center, will undergo renovations, including interior partitions, a new ceiling, restrooms, and a loading dock.

The application was submitted on Dec. 23. It is unclear how long it will take to complete the project and open the store.

“This is a huge win for our residents and a symbol of the progress we’ve made together,” Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall said. “The arrival of Trader Joe’s is a testament to the growing vibrancy and potential of Gresham.”

“For years, our community has expressed a deep desire for more specialty grocery options, and this investment underscores that Gresham is not only a great place to live and work but also a thriving market for businesses,” he added.

Trader Joe’s, headquartered in Monrovia, Calif., operates more than 595 locations nationwide. Named after its founder, Joe Coulombe, the store has grown from humble beginnings in 1958 to become a popular grocery destination.

Many of its signature products, sold under the “Trader Joe’s” private label, include chili and lime-flavored corn tortilla chips, mandarin orange chicken, dark chocolate peanut butter cups, everything bagel seasoning, and its infamous “Two Buck Chuck” wines.

Residents across the region have long advocated for a specialty grocer like Trader Joe’s. Through listening sessions, surveys, and town hall meetings, a recurring theme emerged: the need for diverse grocery options.

“We all hear the chant of, ‘We want a Trader Joe’s,’” said Fairview Mayor Keith Kudrna in 2013, when he chaired the mayor’s visioning committee.

Previous talks with Trader Joe’s often fell short, as the company typically seeks locations with a median household income exceeding $100,000, among other benchmarks that East Multnomah County did not meet.

“This announcement reflects years of strategic conversations and hard work by the city of Gresham,” said City Manager Eric Schmidt. “Trader Joe’s recognized what we’ve known all along — Gresham is a city of opportunity and growth.”

“We’re excited to welcome them to the community and look forward to the positive impact this will have on our economy and quality of life,” Schmidt added.