Neighbors Say Trader Joe’s is Top Choice to Replace Empty Rite Aid Near Woodcrest

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.

“Absolutely!” Jen Freilich said. “[Trader Joe’s] is absolutely ideal, it’s a fantastic location, and I believe it’s absolutely necessary in this area.”

Many others have expressed similar sentiments.

“Absolutely yes to Trader Joe’s replacing Rite Aid!” said Blair Rasmus, a mother of four. “I’m a regular customer of TJ’s, and I would love to shop at one much closer to home. Not only that, TJ’s has a great selection of budget-friendly and seasonal food, which makes shopping there more fun and convenient. There are a lot more pros than cons, and I’m really crossing my fingers and toes!”

Despite the clear desire for Trader Joe’s to replace the Rite Aid near Woodcrest, some have expressed practical precautions and concerns about attracting traffic near local elementary schools and safety.

“Currently, the present exits are both one-way, consisting of only right turns, and the Washington center lane is already very dangerous during school drop off and pickup,” Debbie W. said. “That entire area of Washington would need to be resurveyed, especially the narrow single lanes south and north. An increase in traffic count could be a real safety concern for the elementary school being located so close.”

The issue of bringing unwanted traffic seems to be a common concern echoed among those who are skeptical of the idea of putting a Trader Joe’s in the suggested area.

“I think it’s foolish,” local Hector Rodriguez said. “Yet another high-traffic store being put in our community, that’s only going to make things even more congested around here. Between the warehouses, the In-N-Out, school starting back up and the other high-traffic areas that we are or will be getting, it puts so much activity in our neighborhood.”

Others have also noted that the location situates Trader Joe’s directly across from a Stater Bros, which may cause direct competition and some reluctance from either side in realizing this possibility.

Although these concerns cannot be ignored, Trader Joe’s indisputably brings a lot of benefits to local Riversiders.

For one, for such a popular grocery chain, Trader Joe’s only has one location in Riverside, which is the Riverside Plaza downtown. Many locals expressed fatigue with driving relatively long distances to go to their favorite store. Having a Trader Joe’s locally would make seasonal produce and quality products more accessible and convenient for community members, aspects that cannot be found in competing stores such as Stater Bros or Aldi.

Furthermore, putting in a Trader Joe’s is attractive not only for local residents but for Trader Joe’s themselves, boosting the local economy in many ways.

“Hively said an estimated 47,000 cars pass through the intersection of Van Buren Boulevard and Washington Street on any given day. This site provides excellent visibility,” Tim Hively commented.

As of now, Trader Joe’s has made no official announcement about moving into the Van Buren site, and local officials have not confirmed any plans. Still, the strong reaction from local residents shows one thing clearly: the community is eager for a grocery store that is both convenient and community-focused. With the recently added Trader Joe’s in Riverside’s sister city Redlands receiving much love, there may be a chance Riversiders can experience the same in their own neighborhood.

By Erik Chen