Trader Joe’s confirms Fresno store will close, move north

After weeks of rumors, Trader Joe’s officially confirmed Tuesday that it is closing its Blackstone Avenue store in Fresno and moving it north.

The store will open in Park Crossing, the new development under construction at Friant Road and Fresno Street, as the Bee reported recently. The store will face that intersection. Construction hasn’t started yet.

The move won’t happen until the second half of 2017 and the current store will stay open until then.

“The present location will close at its regular time and the new store will open at 8 o’clock the next morning,” said Trader Joe’s spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki.

Customers of the Fresno Trader Joe’s have already expressed frustration at the rumored move, particularly central Fresno residents who complain about having to drive farther north to shop. The store is popular and frequently packed with customers.

Mochizuki did not say why the store is moving, saying, “We actually don’t disclose the details of our decision making process.”

But the store has long been known for its small and oddly laid out parking lot. Customers have also reported problems with equipment at the store.

The new store will be 3,000 square feet bigger than the existing 10,000-square-foot store.

This story was originally published May 3, 2016 at 9:01 AM with the headline "Trader Joe’s confirms Fresno store will close, move north."