BRIDGEWATER, NJ — Rumors that Trader Joe's will be opening a location in Bridgewater have finally been confirmed.

"We are working to bring a store to Bridgewater," Kenya Friend-Daniel, public relations director for Trader Joe's, told Patch. The specialty grocery store will be opening in the Bridgewater Promenade between Routes 28 and East Main Street. Trader Joe's will replace the former Golfsmith store which was located next to Old Navy.



Currently, the nearest Trader Joe's locations are in Westfield or North Brunswick. "The much anticipated opening of Trader Joe's in Bridgewater is a welcome addition to our growing list of top-tier retail options in our community. I congratulate everyone involved and I wish Trader Joe's much success in their new Bridgewater Promenade location," said Bridgewater Mayor Daniel Hayes.



The identity of the store remained a mystery for many months after the Bridgewater Planning Board approved an application on Dec. 11 which called for a "specialty grocery store." It did not specify the name of the store and, at the time, Trader Joe's would not confirm any details. (See Related: Specialty Grocery Store Opening In Bridgewater Remains A Mystery)

The application was submitted by Kimco Realty, who owns the Bridgewater Promenade. It's also home to stores such as Costco, Home Depot, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Target.

The new Trader Joe's store will be about 13,000 square feet, which would mean taking some space, about 2,800 square feet, away from Old Navy's 18,180 square feet to make room, according to mycentraljersey.com.

Since the company is in the initial stages of the development process, no other information will be released about the location, officials said. Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.