Trader Joe's is still planning to open a State College-area store, but it's no longer expected to open in 2011, a company spokeswoman said last week.

She said the specialty grocery store, to take shape at 1855 N. Atherton St., in Patton Township, is now set to open in 2012.

More-specific details were not immediately available, though township Manager Doug Erickson said the plans for the store have all the township approvals they need in order to proceed.

California-based Trader Joe's confirmed in March that it's planning for a North Atherton Street store. At that point, the company indicated that the store was expected to open late in 2011.

No major structure construction appears to have begun at the North Atherton Street address. Plans call for the store to cover 12,500 square feet, according to the company.

Trader Joe's counts more than 350 store locations, including just more than a half-dozen in Pennsylvania. The first Trader Joe's opened in Pasadena, Calif., in 1967.

Earlier coverage

• Trader Joe's Plans State College Store (March 21, 2011)

• State College Trader Joe's to Cover 12,500 Square Feet (March 22, 2011)