An intriguing question has been floating around: What will replace the empty Rite Aid near Woodcrest? Surprisingly, for many locals, the answer is clear: Trader Joe’s.
After filing for bankruptcy earlier this year in 2025, a large wave of Rite Aid locations and stores were promptly shut down. The Rite Aid at 17055 Van Buren Blvd. was no different in receiving the same fate. Now the site sits as an empty parking lot, and community members are brainstorming potential replacements that could be realized.
While names such as Aldi, Whole Foods and Sprouts surfaced as possibilities, one name consistently seemed to be on everyone’s mind: Trader Joe’s. A recent Nextdoor post on the topic drew more than 100 reactions and 140 comments in just two days, with the overwhelming majority in favor of Trader Joe’s moving in…