Trader Joe's is planned for a 12,500-square-foot store at Legends Landing, the retail center taking shape at World Commerce Center off International Golf Parkway in St. Johns County.
The specialty grocer appears on a development plan prepared by civil engineering firm England-Thims & Miller for the project, the Jacksonville Daily Record reported. The St. Johns Citizen described the location as Trader Joe's first in St. Johns County.
More national retailers named as tenants
The 40-acre Legends Landing site sits along International Golf Parkway directly behind Costco, Buc-ee's and Bass Pro Shops. The development plan also lists Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Hobby Lobby, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen and Floor & Decor as planned tenants.
Anchor tenant identified but not yet named
A 140,500-square-foot anchor building is shown on the plan but not named. Adrienne Zalkind, vice president of marketing for Stiles Retail Group, said in an Aug. 27 statement that the partnership had identified its anchor tenant but was not yet able to disclose the name.
Site plan details outparcels and parking
The plan shows 10 perimeter outparcels ranging from 1.1 acres to 9.89 acres and about 375 parking spaces.
Developers paid $45 million for the land
A partnership of Stiles Retail Group, Cantrell & Morgan and FCA Partners acquired more than 93 developable acres at World Commerce Center for $45 million. A deed was filed Feb. 19 with St. Johns County. The full acquisition covered more than 487 acres, though not all of that land can be developed.
County review now underway for the plan
England-Thims & Miller submitted a Master Development Plan application to the county on Aug. 26, the Daily Record reported. Under county rules, a Master Development Plan within a Planned Unit Development becomes a legally binding ordinance once approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
Attorney says filing signals real tenant interest
A land use attorney with St. Johns County experience, not affiliated with the project, told the Daily Record that a formal county application of this kind signals serious tenant interest. The attorney estimated a detailed application can cost around $50,000.
Nearby housing growth backs the project's pitch
Legends Landing marketing materials cited by the Daily Record put more than 13,000 housing units as planned or under construction within a 5-mile radius. A planned extension of St. Johns Parkway is expected to connect the site to 17,000 more residential units at full build-out. The county's population has grown 26% since 2019.
No opening date set for the center
No opening timeline has been announced. The Board of County Commissioners has not yet scheduled a hearing on the Master Development Plan.
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