No current plans to bring Trader Joe’s store to South Bend, spokesperson says

SOUTH BEND, Ind.—There are no current plans to bring a Trader Joe’s store to South Bend, according to Kenya Friend-Daniel, the Public Relations Director for Trader Joe’s.

Friend-Daniel said in an email on Wednesday evening that while no plans are underway to open a new location anywhere in Michiana, they’re always looking for “great locations.”

The local desire for a Trader Joe’s in South Bend has sparked many discussions online as well as an entire Facebook page dedicated to the cause.

New Trader Joe’s locations can be requested by community members via a form on the company’s website.

President and CEO of South Bend’s Regional Chamber of Commerce, Jeff Rea, called the idea of a forthcoming Trader Joe’s location a “rumor at best.”

“It’s probably the most asked about company, many people want them here,” Rea said in an email, adding that there are a number of grocery stores on the drawing board for the area.

Requests for information from Kite Reality, the real estate investment trust that runs Eddy Street Commons, regarding a future grocery store in Phase 2 of the development, were not returned by the time of this writing.

According to the Trader Joe’s website, there are two locations in Indianapolis and one in Kalamazoo.