Trader Joe's Coming to University Heights in 2026

Captains and Crew Members are coming to John Carroll.

Cuyahoga County is slated to get its fourth Trader Joe’s, recent plans and building permits show, this time in the middle of University Heights.

The coveted grocer is planned to be the largest retail tenant at the in-progress Gateway North development, a mid-rise going up near Fairmount Circle in between Warrensville Center and Milford roads.

Plans for the development show 96 apartment units, designed for juniors and seniors at John Carroll’s campus across the street. (And a parking lot with 487 spaces.) They also hint at a “specialty grocer” occupying a massive ground-floor commercial space on the western side of the building.

University Heights Mayor Michael Brennan confirmed the plans in a call with Scene on Monday, adding that the city’s been in talks with Trader Joe’s since at least 2021 to bring them to the Gateway North space.

“It’s basically been the worse kept secret in town,” Brennan said, adding: “People talk about food deserts—University Heights will be a food oasis.”

The store is slated to open in the fall of 2026, according to plans, but both John Carroll and Trader Joe’s skated around confirmation in comments to Scene.

“At this time, we can’t confirm the specialty grocer’s name,” a spokesperson for John Carroll told Scene, “but we hope to share more details about our exciting Gateway North project soon.”

A Trader Joe’s spokesperson said, “We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country, including areas around Cleveland, as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year.”

Founded in Pasadena, California, in the 1960s, Trader Joe’s is known for its unique food at low prices, along with its vibrant aesthetic and chill atmosphere.

There are three TJ’s already in the Greater Cleveland area: Westlake, Woodmere and Mentor.