The Ashvegas blog today says that "local sources" have confirmed that Trader Joe's is indeed coming to Asheville, where the grocery store chain will set up shop on Merrimon Avenue. Writer Jason Sandford notes that calls to the company headquarters have gone unanswered. Xpress had had the very same experience, although just last year a Trader Joe's executive informed us that a move to Asheville was not "in the two-year plan." Here's more from Sandford:

"[The store will be located] between Greenlife grocery store and the new Harris Teeter that is under construction. A couple of buildings are going to be torn down to make way for a new Trader Joe’s. I’ve called the company’s headquarters for comment/confirmation, but have not heard back.

The new store will create a veritable grocery row, as one recent Ashvegas reader noted. That’s going to be one highly competitive series of grocery store offerings on a super-busy road.

Last week, someone on the 6,000+-member Bring Trader Joe’s to Asheville Facebook group said TJ’s bought property on Long Shoals Road. And a week or so before that, another Trader Joe’s fan posted that the company was definitely coming to Asheville."