Buzz and rumors have surrounded the on-again, off-again plans for a Trader Joe's in the historic Alabama Theater for months, as well as plans for two other Houston locations.
Although there remains no mention of inner-Loop stores on the website, the eagerly-awaited California-based chain quelled any doubts with an official confirmation of its Houston intentions: "The company will open two more local locations — one in the Memorial area and one inside the former Alabama Theater," Trader Joe's spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki told the Houston Chronicle.
It had previously announced a location in The Woodlands.
Just last week, Swamplot reported on the plans to convert the historic Alabama Theater into a "retail shell," and CultureMap's Tyler Rudick obtained exclusive photos of the space's interior amid demolition that show the floor leveled and some of the art-deco plaster paneling removed. (Only the building's exterior has been designated historic; interior plans are not subject to approval by the Houston Archaeological and Historical Commission).
All three area stores — the already-underway build-up in The Woodlands, plus the two recently-confirmed in Houston proper — are slated to open this year.
The locations are:
- Memorial store, 1440 S. Voss (14,000 square feet)
- The Woodlands store, 10868 Kuykendahl (13,500 square feet in the Woodlands Crossing Shopping Center)
- Montrose-area store, 2922 S. Shepherd (14,500 square feet in the renovated movie theater/book store)
Rendering of the Trader Joe's Memorial location
