Trader Joe's In Joliet: City Council Vote Nears On Class C Liquor License For Trader Joe's #880

JOLIET, IL — Back on Feb. 6,Joliet Patch became the first news outlet in America to bring you the news that Trader Joe's was expanding into Joliet, taking over the former Joann Fabrics store that went out of business due to a massive corporation downsizing across the country.

Now that Trader Joe's has finished all the renovations and it's about ready to open, the project will be on the Joliet City Council agenda for a vote on Tuesday night.

According to city manager Beth Beatty's memo, the Joliet City Council will vote on issuing a Class C Liquor License at 2741 Plainfield Road for Trader Joe’s #880. City documents indicate that the liquor license will only be packaged alcohol sales and will probably constitute about 10 percent of the business sales from the new Trader Joe's.

Beatty explained that a liquor hearing was held with the deputy liquor commissioner on September 3 for the Trader Joe’s #880.

"Based on the liquor hearing the Liquor Commission feels that the issuance of the liquor license would be in the best interest of the city, and therefore. recommends approval of the license," Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy's memo indicated.

Back in February, Joliet Patch reported that one year after the Joann Fabrics store closed in the Joliet Commons at 2741 Plainfield Road, it appears the empty retail store will be replaced in 2026 with a Trader Joe's grocery store.

Multiple sources informed Joliet Patch that Trader Joe's will be remodeling the empty storefront at 2741 Plainfield Road.

Trader Joe's put out a contract bid for the property at 2741 Plainfield Road in Joliet announcing that the construction work would be commercial and that it was 15,000 feet in square footage and that the project involves a retail store.

According to its website, "At Trader Joe's, you won’t find a lot of branded items. Instead, you’ll discover a store full of unique and interesting products, along with everyday basics, in the Trader Joe's label. Our buyers travel the world searching for products we think are exceptional and will find a following among our customers. To earn a spot on our shelves, each product is submitted to a rigorous tasting panel process, in which every aspect of quality is investigated in context of the price we can offer. If a product is assessed as an outstanding value, it becomes an essential part of the Trader Joe's shopping adventure."

Last November, the Oswego Patch ran a story revealing Trader Joe's was coming to Oswego.