Trader Joe’s appears to be moving closer to opening a store in Canton Township.
Canton Township planning staff confirmed the company is pursuing a location in the space formerly occupied by CVS at 42433 Ford Road, in the Canton Corners shopping center at the southwest corner of Ford Road and Lilley Road.
“The property owner (Canton Corners/Ford Road LLC) recently submitted a Certificate of Zoning Compliance for a grocery store at this location, and they named Trader Joe’s as the occupant on the application,” Community Planning Manager Patrick Sloan said in an email.
Sloan said the township has approved the zoning compliance certificate and noted next steps are for the applicant to obtain re-occupancy permits and approval of the site plan and building plans.
While he could not provide a timeline for the process, Sloan noted the township is actively working with the property owners.
Schostak Brothers & Co., which owns the Canton Corners shopping center, shows a “lease pending” status on its website for the former CVS property.
In June, Trader Joe’s Public Relations Manager Nakia Rohde said the company was planning a location in Canton Township “in the next couple of years,” but could not confirm a location.
On July 15, Rohde said she did not have an update to share.
The 12,309-square-foot building has been vacant since CVS closed in April 2024. The building has been cleared out, and a building permit posted inside by JCS Construction Services is labeled “Trader Joe’s Demo.”
Township officials say they are looking forward to the prospect of Trader Joe’s joining the busy Ford Road corridor.
“We welcome them, and we’re glad to have them,” said Economic Development and Downtown Development Authority Manager Gavin Beckford. “Right now, you have to trek west or north for a good 20 to 25 minutes to get to a Trader Joe’s.”
Beckford said the addition would give shoppers another reason to visit Canton while also benefiting nearby businesses.
“It makes your shopping visit much more efficient than ping-ponging all over Wayne County,” he said. “We are committed to doing our best to provide our residents and our visitors with the best possible shopping experience.”
Trader Joe’s, a national chain grocery store known for its private label products and loyal customer following, currently has nine Michigan locations and recently announced a tenth opening soon in Farmington Hills.
Contact reporter Laura Colvin: lcolvin@hometownlife.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Exclusive: Trader Joe’s eying new Canton location on Ford Road
Reporting by Laura Colvin, Hometownlife.com / Detroit Free Press
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By Laura Colvin, Hometownlife.com | USA TODAY Network
