Trader Joe’s is quietly lining up a possible second Sarasota outpost, and this one would land in a familiar big-box shell on South Tamiami Trail. County paperwork shows the former Staples at 8199 S. Tamiami Trail is being positioned as a “future grocery store,” hinting at a new neighborhood player in an already crowded supermarket scene.
According to Tampa Bay Business Journal, documents filed this week outline plans for a second Trader Joe’s in Sarasota County. The report ties the paperwork to county permitting for the site but notes that no construction timeline is listed in the filing.
Public records examined by Suncoast Searchlight show early prep permits describing the space as a “future grocery store” and explicitly labeling a “proposed Trader Joe’s” at 8199 S. Tamiami Trail, the former Staples near Beneva Road. Mapping and business listings confirm that address previously housed a Staples location, per MapQuest.
Where It Would Sit In The Grocery Map
Trader Joe’s currently operates a store at 4101 S. Tamiami Trail in Sarasota and a Lakewood Ranch location at 8111 Cooper Creek Blvd, according to the company’s Florida store directory. The Lakewood Ranch shop opened in October 2023, and the Tampa Bay Business Journal reports the new filing would mark the chain’s seventh store in the broader Tampa Bay region. Local shoppers say another Trader Joe’s could ease the crush at some of the area’s busiest locations.
Next Steps And Timeline
Because the filing reviewed by Suncoast Searchlight is a prep permit, the project still needs a build-out permit, sign permits and county inspections before any construction can start, a process that can stretch over months. Suncoast reports that Trader Joe’s has not yet applied for interior build-out permits and that company representatives did not confirm the location when contacted.
