Trader Joe’s picks abandoned movie theater as its latest LA store — sparking excitement and unease

From movies to mandarin chicken.

A crumbling piece of the old Hollywood story could soon get a very Trader Joe’s twist, after the cult-favorite grocer officially filed plans to transform LA’s long-abandoned Fox Venice Theater.

The likely transformation of the once-glamorous 1950s movie palace into yet another branch of the buzzy chain has sparked both excitement and unease in the neighborhood.

Trader Joe’s officially lodged an application with Los Angeles City Planning to transform the long-dormant theater at 620 S. Lincoln Blvd into its newest 12,500-square-foot outpost, according to filings.

The location, just blocks from a large Whole Foods location, would stay open an hour later than the company’s other stores, with daily hours proposed as 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

But while some may be thrilled at the prospect of easier access to cookie butter and $3 wine, the plan marks a dramatic shift for one of Venice’s most recognizable — and long-neglected — sights.

The Fox Venice Theatre first opened in 1951 as a single-screen cinema operated by Fox West Coast Theatres, debuting with a Betty Grable film and quickly becoming a neighborhood staple.

Over the decades, it evolved into a revival house for classic films before falling on hard times and eventually morphing into an indoor swap meet—a far cry from its cinematic heyday.

The site has sat largely vacant in recent years, its iconic marquee still standing as a ghostly reminder of Venice’s past.

Now, Trader Joe’s — the Pasadena-born grocery chain known for quirky branding and snacks, not to mention a nationwide army of ardent fans — is looking to breathe new life into the property.

The company’s application to Los Angeles City Planning signals a renewed push after earlier attempts to open a new Venice location fizzled out.  

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If approved, the store would join a growing list of TJ’s expansions across the Westside, including a planned Santa Monica location in a former Rite Aid.

The proposal, however, raises a familiar LA question: what happens when historic character collides with modern convenience?

While not formally designated as such, the Fox Venice is considered a historic asset, meaning any redevelopment could face scrutiny over preserving its Art Deco facade and signature signage.

Stores in disused theaters are a part of SoCal life — from bookstores on Ventura Blvd. to LA’s most impressive Apple Store, inside DTLA’s long-shuttered Tower Theater.

Once again, developers will have to tackle logistical hurdles — including adapting a windowless, high-ceiling theater into a fully functioning grocery store.  

Online, locals are already weighing in—with some celebrating the long-empty space finally getting a tenant, while others are less keen. One Reddit user called it “awesome news,” while another quipped the neighborhood didn’t exactly need “yet another TJ’s.” 

For now, the project remains in the approval phase, meaning the theater’s next act is still uncertain.