Around Town

Trader Joe’s Signs Lease in Clarendon (Finally)

Being Trader Joe’s is like being the prettiest girl in school. Everybody wants to go to the dance with you, so you can afford to be picky.

So it was with the grocery chain’s new Clarendon location. For months now, the company has kept observers wondering when they would finalize the lease for 11,000 square feet of prime retail space on the ground floor of the Clarendon Center project.

First, the store demanded concessions from Arlington County, which were granted. Then, we hear, they insisted on holding off on the lease until they were granted certain county permits.

It now appears that whatever permits the company has been waiting for have been approved. The Clarendon Center leasing plan shows Trader Joe’s occupying the space, near the corner of North Highland Street and Clarendon Boulevard.

In November the company told the county to expect a Summer 2011 opening date.