You would think that “Trader Joe” was a rock star.
This morning, dozens of people lined up and burst through the doors at the grand opening of the Trader Joe’s store at 15932 Redmond Way.
Crew members in Hawaiian shirts passed out colorful leis and customers excitedly raced through the aisles in search of favorite products they’d previously purchased at the Bellevue or Kirkland locations. Now they can find them right here in Redmond.
“This is a great turn-out. People have really anticipated this opening. … People have planned their day around it,” said Mayor John Marchione, who helped Captain (store manager) Bob Jarchow with the ceremonial lei-cutting.
“With 35,000 jobs in downtown and Willows Road,” Marchione said that all nearby businesses should benefit from having “more choices” for shopping.
“People will park once and hit both TJ’s (Trader Joe’s) and QFC,” he predicted.
Jarchow, who transferred to Redmond from the Bellevue store, said that loyal customers really come to feel like, “it’s THEIR Trader Joe’s — people get very attached.”
The company has done a great job with personalizing the Redmond store, which has a much more spacious look and feel than locations in neighboring communities.
It’s hard not to feel at home when you spot the street signs referring to Redmond Way, Cleveland Street, Willows Road, Avondale Road and Bear Creek Parkway, the bicycle-related displays and stunning murals of the Sammamish River Valley, Marymoor Park, Redmond City Hall and other local landmarks.
The murals were painted by Trader Joe’s crew members Seth Leamer from the Portland store and Theresa Weisbeck from the Bellevue store.
In the hallway near the restrooms, a wall is papered with old Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyers. Jarchow has invited the Redmond Historical Society to hang vintage photos there, too.
The store employs many people from Redmond, Woodinville and Duvall, who seemed to be having as much fun as the shoppers on the opening day.
Crew members Shelley Roy-Noel and Tia Alameda could barely keep up, but were all smiles, as they passed out samples of turkey meatballs with Trader Joe’s Puttanesca sauce, as well as coffee and pumpkin spice cake.
Redmond shoppers such as Joan Lohmann and Kathi Reilly were stocking up on gluten-free and vegetarian products, respectively. Redmond’s Bette Kelly, whose son is a “First Mate” at the Trader Joe’s in Seattle’s Queen Anne neighborhood remarked, “they’re very good to the community.”
She said they’re generous to local food banks, “and when you shop here, you get good quality for a low price.”
Because Redmond is known for its family-oriented and active lifestyles, Jarchow thinks best-selling products will include kid-pleasers such as frozen mini-tacos and pizzas, as well as nuts and trail mixes. And now is the time to get your fill of seasonal specialties such as gingerbread mix at Trader Joe’s.
The Redmond Way store is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. daily. For more information, call (425) 883-1624.
