Trader Joe's, a national grocery store chain, has shown interest in opening a store in Lexington. While this is not finalized, individuals can sign a petition to support the initiative.

To sign the petition, visit this link or go to the Town of Lexington’s Facebook page.

Currently, South Carolina has Trader Joe's locations in Columbia, Greenville and Mt. Pleasant. The Columbia store is at 4516 Forest Dr. and operates daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

In 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau reported the following populations: Columbia with 142,416 residents, Mt. Pleasant with 95,232, Greenville with 72,824 and Lexington with 24,921.

Reports indicate that Trader Joe's selects locations based on high population density, parking availability and proximity to high-traffic areas. They aim to establish stores where a substantial number of residents can ensure consistent demand.

Trader Joe's often situates stores near college towns. The Columbia store is approximately 13 minutes from the University of South Carolina campus and the Mt. Pleasant store is about 15 minutes from the College of Charleston campus.

Trader Joe's first opened in 1967 in Pasadena, California. As of March 2025, there are 608 locations across 43 states. California has 205 stores, New York has 35 and Washington has 29.

Inside each store, customers find unique products as well as everyday basics. According to the Trader Joe's website, they buy directly from suppliers when possible, purchase in volume, keep costs low and if an item isn't popular, it's removed and replaced with a new product. For a product to earn a spot in the store, it must pass a rigorous tasting panel and new products are introduced every week.

A study found that Trader Joe's prices were 15% lower than Target and 31% lower than Whole Foods; however, the store does not offer coupons or discounts.