New Trader Joe's On UES Gets Green Light From City

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The city Landmarks Preservation Commission approved Trader Joe's application to establish a new store at the landmarked retail space underneath the Queensboro Bridge, marking the end to a quick public review and giving the popular grocery chain the green light to file building plans.

The commission voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the application, which calls for alterations to the landmarked space but nothing on a major scale. Most of the work will involve adding Trader Joe's signage to entrances on 59th and 60th streets and building a new loading bay on the 60th street side of the space.

Other plans for the space include new mechanical equipment, new stairwells, setting up the sales floor and storage areas and installing new doors and public restrooms, according to plans filed with the city.

The Queensboro Bridge retail space is a unique interior landmark because the actual store's interiors — which were not part of the bridge's original design — are not protected by landmarks status. Protections are reserved for the "cathedral-like" feel of the space, which features elaborate Gustavino-style tiled ceilings.

City approval for the project, which was given on the same day of its public hearing before the Landmarks Preservation Commission, follows the recommendation of the Upper East Side's Community Board 8. The board's landmarks committee and full board approved the plans earlier this month.

Architects hired by Trader Joe's previously told CB 8's landmarks committee that the store will not need to do much construction to get the new location up-and-running because of the space's previous use as a supermarket.

The Queensboro Bridge retail space was previously occupied by a Food Emporium, which closed in 2015. The arts and crafts store Michael's planned to open in the space — submitting applications to the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2017 — but the move fell through. Michael's application met some resistance from landmarks commissioners who thought the proposed design clashed with the retail space's historical significance.

A spokesperson for Trader Joe's declined to comment.

Plans submitted to the city by Trader Joe's can be seen here.