We spoke too soon in August in relaying the news that Trader Joe's earlier announced plan to move into a below-ground space at Fourth and Market Streets, underneath Old Navy, would be seeing an opening in October. The company announced on its own website the other week that the opening was now delayed until the new year — after previously posting a hiring call on the same page suggesting an October 14 opening date.

The reasons for the delay are unclear, but let's just assume the main one is San Francisco, and some sort of last-minute construction, bureaucracy, or inspection issue.

The cheap wine and peanut butter-stuffed pretzel purveyor is taking on a fairly unique location for the chain, clocking in at 15,000 square feet in a basement space that was once home to the Old Navy store's café and "edgier" clothing line, with no parking of its own. The store will be good news for new residents of downtown and SoMa, as well as the Tenderloin, given that TJ's has five other locations in town but the closest one to the inner city is at Ninth and Brannan.

"Trader Joe's is coming to downtown San Francisco, California!" they write. "Our Crew is working hard so we can open our doors in 2017."


Previously: Trader Joe's Opening On 4th And Market This October