Trader Joe's plans location in Southlake

A Trader Joe's grocery planned at the northwest corner of Central Avenue and Southlake Boulevard is expected to open in 2014.

The offbeat California grocer, which has cult followings with products such as its Speculoos Cookie Butter, will be roughly 11,000 square feet of retail space, with about another 3,000 square feet below grade for deliveries, loading and other back of the house functions, said developer Frank Bliss, president of Cooper & Stebbins.

He said the two-level building will be designed by David M. Schwarz, the architect responsible for Southlake Town Square as well as the Ballpark at Arlington and other iconic North Texas buildings.

"When Trader Joe's came to Texas, we knew there was a possibility that it could be a good fit for Town Square," Bliss said. "We keep a list of businesses and uses for properties and at the top of that list was Trader Joe's.

"We reached out to them and said, 'If you're interested in this market, we've got a site. It turned out be a good fit for both sides."

Bliss said he believes the location roughly across the street from Central Market is good because both draw the same kinds of customers for different reasons, and

"both have demonstrated an ability to draw customers from farther away than a typical grocery store."

Parking for the store will be on two levels, Bliss said.

The building is still under design, and plans are going through the city approval process.

Trader Joe's also announced today that it will build a new store in Katy.

See our story about that location: impactnews.com/trader-joe's-planned-for-lacenterra-at-cinco-ranch/