Trader Joe's may be considering a store in the Lyn-Lake area of south Minneapolis, according to a City Council member.

Meg Tuthill, who represents the area on the City Council, said she has seen an early plan for a Trader Joe's grocery store at 2700 Lyndale Av. that would be developed by Told Development Co. of Plymouth.

Tuthill said no formal plan had been submitted to the city as of Wednesday, but the developer has talked to her staff and to city planners, who would review such a project for compliance with zoning and other city ordinances.

Trader Joe's has grown to more than 360 stores across the United States. The Twin Cities area stores are in St. Louis Park, Minnetonka, Maple Grove, St. Paul and Woodbury, according to Trader Joe's website.

Trader Joe's competes with local co-ops and the Whole Foods chain.

The Lyn-Lake site is less than five blocks south of the Wedge Natural Foods Co-Op, which has operated near Lyndale and Franklin Avenues for more than three decades.

Lyn-Lake, which gets its name from the intersection of Lyndale Avenue and Lake Street, is about a half-mile east of the Uptown neighborhood.

Lyn-Lake has seen a surge of development in recent years, especially along the Midtown Greenway, and is home to the Jungle Theater and Bryant-Lake Bowl. The city has developed a small area plan for Lyn-Lake to encourage independent businesses and to cultivate a unique commercial and residential neighborhood.

Tuthill said she has not seen much information about the Trader Joe's plan. She said traffic, zoning and other neighborhood concerns would need to be considered.

"They have kicked the tires," Tuthill said of the developer's early plans that were shown to city officials.

David Shaffer • 612-673-7090