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Trader Joe's Uptown store set to open Monday

Trader Joe's Uptown store set to open Monday

Built World Chicago, IL local

The Montrose Avenue location ends a long search for a Far North Side Trader Joe's.

Yesterday: Block Club reports Uptown opening Monday

Overview

Updated 8 minutes ago

Trader Joe's is set to open a store at 804 W. Montrose Ave. in Uptown, Block Club Chicago reported, with doors scheduled to open Monday. The Far North Side neighborhood has sought a Trader Joe's for years.

The store fills a space at the base of an apartment tower that most recently held XMarket, a vegan grocery and food hall that closed in 2024. It also fits a wider Chicago expansion: Trader Joe's has confirmed a North Park store and is planning locations in Logan Square and Fulton Market.

Why it matters

For Uptown shoppers, it cuts a grocery trip; for Trader Joe's, it tests demand in a dense North Side corridor.

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Key Indicators

1
New Uptown store
Trader Joe's at 804 W. Montrose Ave.
6
Chicago Trader Joe's locations before Uptown
As of November 2025, the chain had six stores in Chicago and one in Evanston.
2026
Scheduled opening year
Block Club Chicago reported the Uptown store would open Monday in 2026.

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People Involved

DS
Debra Silverstein
Alderman, Chicago 50th Ward
Announced North Park Trader Joe's in April 2026

Organizations Involved

Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's
Retailer (grocery chain)
Opening Uptown store; expanding in Chicago

The California-based grocery chain operates small-format stores with private-label products.
City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
City of Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection
Municipal licensing agency
Issued liquor license and buildout permit

The department licenses businesses and enforces consumer rules in Chicago.

Timeline

2015 November 2026

9 events Latest: Yesterday
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Block Club reports Uptown opening Monday

    Latest Opening

    The report said the Montrose Avenue store would open Monday.

  2. Company confirms Uptown and North Park stores

    Expansion

    Trader Joe's confirmed the Uptown store and a North Park location.

  3. City issues buildout permit

    Permitting

    A permit allowed construction work at the Montrose Avenue storefront.

  4. Sun-Times reports Uptown store hint

    Media

    City records suggested Trader Joe's planned a store at the former XMarket site.

  5. Trader Joe's pays for Montrose liquor license

    Licensing

    City records showed payment for a packaged goods liquor license.

  6. Trader Joe's requests liquor inspection

    Licensing

    The grocer filed a preliminary inspection request for 804 W. Montrose Ave.

  7. Andersonville Trader Joe's plans fall through

    Expansion

    Plans for a Clark Street store did not proceed.

  8. West Ridge petition targets Trader Joe's

    Campaign

    Neighbors and business officials asked the grocer to open at Western and Touhy.

  9. Edgewater neighbors push for Trader Joe's

    Campaign

    Neighbors sought a store at 5600 N. Ridge Ave. Trader Joe's declined.

Scenarios

1

Uptown Trader Joe's opens by end of November

Likely Resolves by Nov 30, 2026

Discussed by: Block Club Chicago

Block Club Chicago reported the store would open Monday. The storefront has a buildout permit and liquor license. If the opening holds, shoppers can use the Montrose Avenue store this month.

2

North Park Trader Joe's opens in 2027

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Ald. Debra Silverstein, Block Club Chicago

Silverstein announced the Lincoln Village Shopping Center store in April 2026. In July she said it planned to open in 2027. The company has not confirmed a timeline.

3

Trader Joe's confirms another Chicago store by mid-2027

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Block Club Chicago

The company is planning stores in Logan Square and Fulton Market. A new confirmation would extend its Chicago expansion beyond the Uptown and North Park locations.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2015

Edgewater Trader Joe's campaign (2015)

Edgewater neighbors pushed for a Trader Joe's at the former El Norte site, 5600 N. Ridge Ave. The company declined. A School of Rock later anchored the development.

Then

The site went to another tenant.

Now

The rejection became one of several failed Far North Side efforts.

Why this matters now

It shows how long demand preceded the Uptown opening.

2020

West Ridge petition (2020)

West Ridge neighbors and business officials petitioned Trader Joe's to open at the former Baker's Square at Western and Touhy. The site became a strip mall anchored by Starbucks.

Then

The campaign did not produce a Trader Joe's.

Now

Neighbors kept pressing for a Far North Side location.

Why this matters now

It shows organized neighborhood demand that preceded the Uptown store.

2023

Andersonville Clark Street plans collapse (2023)

Plans to bring Trader Joe's to Clark Street in Andersonville fell through. No store opened.

Then

The site did not get a Trader Joe's.

Now

The Uptown store became the first Far North Side location to advance after those failures.

Why this matters now

It shows how recent the failed attempts were before the Uptown opening.

Sources

(3)
+1
Block Club Chicago Chicago Sun-Times Block Club Chicago