Grocery Chain Still Plans Willowbrook Location Near Route 83

WILLOWBROOK, IL – A national grocery chain still plans to open a Willowbrook location, but the company hasn't revealed a timeline.

In April, the Willowbrook village government announced that California-based Trader Joe's was planning to redevelop the property at 735 Plainfield Road, the site of an old bowling alley.

This week, Willowbrook's administrator, Sean Halloran, told Patch that the village had no information on the opening date. But he said the village would share more information with residents when it could do so.

A Trader Joe's spokesperson also declined to confirm a timeline.

The chain has more than 600 locations across the country, including in nearby Downers Grove and La Grange.

Just east of Route 83, the Plainfield Road property was the site of Willowbrook Bowl from 1963 until its closure in 2016.

In August 2025, the village bought the property for $5.1 million, saying it planned to redevelop it.

The village said its longstanding practice was to prioritize retail and restaurant development. That means more sales tax income, which helps the village avoid levying a property tax for general operations.