Trader Joe’s confirms Anaheim Hills store, number 295, on opening pipeline

A former Big Lots in Anaheim Hills is set to become Trader Joe’s store 295, turning a vacant big-box anchor into a new draw for shoppers, workers and traffic at one of the area’s busiest retail corners. The site is listed at 6336 E Santa Ana Canyon Rd, Anaheim Hills, CA 92807, near East Santa Ana Canyon Road and South Fairmont Boulevard.

For nearby residents, the biggest immediate shift is practical: a new Trader Joe’s usually changes the daily rhythm of a shopping center as much as the tenant mix. The store will replace a former Big Lots at Anaheim Hills Village, a center that was originally developed in 1984, spans 67,528 square feet and was 95 percent occupied when Tourmaline Capital bought it for $16.7 million in March 2024. Big Lots was the anchor tenant at the time of the sale, and its 2024 closures helped open the door for a different kind of retailer to take over the space.

That change matters because Trader Joe’s is not a general-merchandise box. The company describes Anaheim Hills as a neighborhood grocery store, which points to a smaller footprint, a curated assortment and a store team that has to move quickly in a tight space. For shoppers, that often means a stronger pull for everyday grocery trips, more stop-and-go traffic around the center and a retail mix that leans away from discount variety toward specialty food. For the intersection, it also means new turning movements, loading activity and parking demand once construction and setup ramp up.

For crew members, the Anaheim Hills listing is a sign to watch the hiring pipeline closely. A Coming Soon page usually means recruiting, training and store setup are already under way even before a public opening date is pinned down. Trader Joe’s careers materials say crew members can receive up to a 20 percent store discount, medical, dental and vision plans for eligible crew members and paid time off, and the company describes its office team as lean, which puts even more weight on store-level staffing and opening leadership.

Anaheim Hills also fits into a larger expansion pattern. Trader Joe’s says it operates in 42 states and Washington, D.C., and spring reporting said the chain planned 18 new stores across 12 states in 2026. For local applicants, that can mean a shot at a new-hire role close to home, while current crew members may see a transfer option or an opening-team assignment. For Anaheim Hills Village, it replaces a dark anchor with a brand that tends to generate steady neighborhood traffic, and that can reshape the center’s role in the community quickly once the doors open.