In a significant move in the grocery market, Trader Joe’s is opening its first location in Matthews — the hometown and headquarter location of grocer juggernaut Harris Teeter.
Town officials confirmed Monday that Trader Joe’s will anchor the Matthews Gateway development, a 58-acre project on East John Street near I-485. Developer Lat Purser & Associates Inc. said construction will begin once nearby infrastructure improvements are complete. The first phase includes two retail buildings alongside the grocery store.
The Matthews location will be the fourth Trader Joe’s in Mecklenburg County. The announcement comes as both brands compete for loyal shoppers nationwide.
A recent Market Force survey ranked Trader Joe’s third among grocery chains nationally, while Matthews-based Harris Teeter placed tenth.
Congratulations are in order to @Wegmans, @Publix and @TraderJoesList for staying on top of the composite loyalty index in the 2018 US Grocery Benchmark Study with fiercely competitive scores. pic.twitter.com/wVEe434jkv
— Market Force (@MarketForce) June 14, 2018
Harris Teeter, which employs about 35,000 people, operates more than 250 stores and 60 fuel centers across seven states and Washington, DC.
