Trader Joe’s to build 1M-square-foot assembly and distribution center in California

Trader Joe’s is building a 1 million-square-foot food assembly and distribution center in Palmdale, California, about 60 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles, the city announced earlier this month.

Construction on the 104-acre site is slated to start this year and the facility is expected to open during the fourth quarter of 2024, the city said.

The project will consist of three buildings—an 827,000-square-foot hub, a 211,000-square-foot freezer facility and a 6,000-square-foot accessory building.

Once it’s running, the Trader Joe’s distribution facility will employ 800 to 1,000 workers, from entry-level jobs to management-level positions.

“Our region currently has over 70,000 commuters, so local job creation at the food and distribution facility will have a tremendous impact on the lives of those that may no longer need to commute,” Palmdale City Council Member Austin Bishop said in a statement. “The idea of providing opportunities for our residents to work closer to home and spend less time commuting so they can free up their time to spend with family contributes to the overall well-being of our community.”

Palmdale is about 50 miles north of Trader Joe’s headquarters in Monrovia, California. The specialty grocer has one location in Palmdale and nearly 200 stores in California, more than any other state.

The food assembly and distribution operation will be Trader Joe’s first such facility in Los Angeles County and its largest logistics facility in California, according to local media reports. Trader Joe’s also has distribution centers in Fontana and Stockton.

In February, the city of Franklin, Kentucky, confirmed that Trader Joe’s is building a $260 million distribution facility there, slated to open before the end of 2023. The 1 million-square-foot facility also includes three buildings and will employ about 900 workers.

In Palmdale, the Trader Joe’s development will also include the establishment of an on-site 12.21-acre Joshua tree preservation area that will include placards identifying the trees and their importance in conservation, the city said.

“We are thrilled that Trader Joe’s has selected Palmdale as a destination to expand their business with their new food assembly and distribution facility,” Palmdale Mayor Laura Bettencourt said in a statement. “The project aligns with the city’s commitment to economic vitality, innovation and job creation and catalyzes additional industrial development in Palmdale.”

Founded in 1967, Trader Joe’s now operates more than 500 grocery stores in 42 states and Washington, D.C.