News Flash

Trader Joe’s Comes to Reading

Neighborhood grocery store set to open on Walkers Brook Drive in 2026

(READING, MA – March 25, 2026) – The Town of Reading is pleased to announce the latest business that will call Reading home: Trader Joe’s. 

Set to open this year, Trader Joe’s will be located within the Crossing at Walkers Brook, specifically at 34 Walkers Brook Drive in the former Staples office store location. Trader Joe’s will be a flagship tenant in the plaza and will join other notable retailers like The Paper Store, Golf Galaxy, The Home Depot and Jordan’s Furniture in this prime Reading location. 

“Since opening the very first Trader Joe's north of Boston in 1998, we’ve been proud to serve customers across two wonderful communities in Saugus and Peabody. As we continue this exciting journey, expanding into Reading feels like a natural next step,” said Chris Maguire, Regional Vice President for Trader Joe’s. “Our new store in Reading will allow us to better serve our loyal customers in Reading and neighboring towns, including Wakefield, Woburn, Stoneham, North Reading, and many other vibrant communities that make this area so special. We’re thrilled to become part of the neighborhood and look forward to welcoming both long-time customers and new faces in this exciting new chapter.”

“The local community has eagerly awaited Trader Joe’s, and we at Wilder are thrilled to help make this dream come true,” said Andy LaGrega, a Principal at Wilder. “As a flagship tenant at the Crossing at Walkers Brook, we know Trader Joe’s will find a welcome home here in Reading.”

The Reading store will be the chain’s 22^nd location in Massachusetts, following recent openings in West Roxbury and Newton. Known for its extensive private-label product lines, everyday value and neighborhood store feel, Trader Joe’s currently operates more than 630 stores in 43 states and the District of Columbia.

“Landing Trader Joe’s is a huge coup for Reading,” said Kevin McCarthy, Senior Planner, Economic Development. “Seeing the incredible revitalization of this area come full circle, from landfill to landmark, is a testament to Andy and the Wilder team, as well as the Town’s investment in attracting new ventures.”

Renovations of the space are expected to begin immediately, with initial building permits for demolition already issued. Trader Joe’s is set to occupy 13,700 square feet, which is about 70% of the space formerly held by Staples. 

Reading Select Board co-chairs Chris Haley and Melissa Murphy commented, "We're delighted that Trader Joe’s has officially confirmed plans for a new store in our town after years of rumors and growing community anticipation, marking an exciting milestone that brings their affordable, high‑quality, and creative grocery offerings directly to our residents. This addition underscores Reading’s economic vitality by creating jobs, attracting visitors, enhancing convenience and quality of life for families, while strengthening our local tax base and complementing nearby businesses.”

“It’s a wonderful time to be in business in Reading; with our mix of small local shops and larger chains and restaurants, I can’t think of a better addition to town than Trader Joe’s,” said Acting Town Manager Jayne Wellman. “Thank you to Andy and the team at Wilder, the Reading Select Board, and our residents and neighbors for their vocal support of this venture.”

See the Reading announcement and store pages here: Announcements | Trader Joe's and Reading | Grocery Store in Reading 01867.

For more information, contact the Office of the Town Manager at (781) 942-9043. 

It’s municipal budget season! As town staff and elected officials prepare for Town Meeting this spring, we’ve developed a series of short videos designed to give residents a look inside the budget process, and the dollars and cents that make it up. We’ll be rolling out new parts of the series over the coming weeks in this space and on our website here: https://www.readingma.gov/708/Budget-Video-Messages

MassDOT will host a Virtual Design Public Hearing on April 9 at 6:30 PM to present proposed improvements to I-95 Northbound in Reading, Stoneham, and Wakefield.

The project includes adding travel lanes, safety improvements, wider shoulders, and proposed noise barriers along the corridor.

Residents are encouraged to attend and share comments.

To learn more and register for the public hearing click the link: https://www.mass.gov/event/reading-stoneham-and-wakefield-improvements-on-i-95-northbound-04-09-2026