NEW YORK, NY - After suspending its online delivery operations in New York City this January, Monrovia, California-based retailer Trader Joe’s may be reworking its approach to the Big Apple and introducing a new flagship store. According to a New York Post report entitled “Trader Joe’s looks to surprise Whole Foods with massive Midtown lease,” Trader Joe’s is currently in negotiations to open “a giant…store in the Park Imperial condo building at Broadway and West 55th Street.”

The new flagship location would be in close proximity to Whole Foods’ own Time Warner Center location.

“They’re keeping it secret because they want to take…Whole Foods by surprise,” a source told the New York Post. The source also noted that, though the Park Imperial advertised a 12,000-square-foot space, the Trader Joe’s store is expected to be much larger—enveloping the seven-story parking structure next door on West 55th Street.

“They had to explain to garage users why they were losing their garage,” a source told the news source. “But everyone involved had to sign a tough nondisclosure agreement.”

According to that source, “the deal is done,” but Trader Joe’s has yet to confirm or deny the report.

“We are very interested in the Broadway location, but that is all of the information there is to share or confirm at this time,” Kenya Friend-Daniel, National Director, Public Relations, told the New York Post.

Will Trader Joe’s 12th New York location be a definitive stroke in its shifting approach to the major market? AndNowUKnow will continue to report as information is forthcoming.

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