BRIDGEWATER, NJ - I love intrigue. And a new application, approved by the city of Bridgewater, New Jersey, for a “specialty grocery store” is the latest target of my speculation. Local news source Patch.com has investigated rumors that a new Trader Joe’s could be coming to the Garden State, but is that the case?

“We are unable to confirm any details at this time,” an unnamed spokesperson for Trader Joe’s told the news source, but the location would fill a gap in the the retailer’s presence in the state. Trader Joe’s already has locations in nearby Westfield and Brunswick, and a new location in the burgeoning suburb of Bridgewater could be key in Trader Joe’s expansion plans.

According to Patch.com, the Bridgewater Planning Board approved an application for a “specialty grocery store” on December 11. The store will help anchor a complex that already includes a Costco, Home Depot, Bed, Bath & Beyond, and Target—taking its place alongside an Old Navy in the +10,000-square-foot former home of a Goldsmith store. The application calls for a 13,000-square-foot space that a My Central Jersey report speculates is somewhere between a typical Trader Joe's and stores operated by rival retailer Aldi.

Could Trader Joe’s be expanding its presence further in New Jersey? Or will a dark horse like The Fresh Market or Aldi be moving into the area?

Only time will tell, and AndNowUKnow will continue to report on the changing retail landscape.