Wait! Hold off on your Trader Joe’s Dill Pickle Hummus craving… for now. The deal between the Columbia County Economic Development Authority and representatives has NOT closed yet—even though a construction permit has been applied for by the grocer.
“The transaction should close any day now,” said Cheney Eldridge, Executive Director of the Columbia County Economic Development Authority.
As ABD first told you back in February, the plan is for Trader Joe’s to build on this 3 + acre property in between U.S. Battery on North Belair Road and the Columbia County Performing Arts Center. Adjacent is the shopping center with Goat Kick Coffee, Mirin Fusion Kitchen, other retailers, as well as The Premier apartment complex.
Other comparable pieces of land are selling for $750,000-$1 million per acre in the Evans Town Center.
Columbia County deeded the 3 + acres at no cost to the Authority in 2024.
Once the transaction closes, the details of the deal with Trader Joe’s will become public.
She’s excited about the possibilities and the opportunities for new jobs and increasing the tax base.
“Trader Joe’s is really hard to bring to a community, she said. Retailers have certain metrics that they look for in the location, plus population growth in a community like Columbia County.”
The journey to make it happen has been going on for roughly five years. Tuesday night at the end of the Columbia County Commission meeting, outgoing Chairman Doug Duncan joyfully acknowledged the final stages are in progress.
“I’m pleased to announce a construction permit has been applied for, and we are one step closer to our dream of having Trader Joe’s in our county,” said Duncan.
ABD reached Nakia Rohde, PR Manager for Trader Joe’s in California.
“The square footage of Trader Joe’s ranges from 5,500 to 25,000. The timeline also widely ranges depending on a variety of factors.”
On the larger end of that spectrum is Sprouts in Augusta with 30,000 square feet and Fresh Market in Augusta, which is roughly in the 20,000 square foot range.
Trader Joe’s will have a head start once a construction permit is granted. A local developer tells ABD that the land is already cleared and water and sewer connections are in place.
Stay with ABD for the latest developments about Trader Joe’s.
