A banner announces the opening of Trader Joe’s Market on Honolulu Avenue. The store is one of the largest that Trader Joe’s has ever built.
By Mary O’KEEFE
It’s official: Trader Joe’s market will have its grand opening on Oct. 28 at 8 a.m.
Community members have been watching the progress of the building at 2462 Honolulu Ave. as in recent weeks trucks have been in and out of the location, the exterior façade has been completed and interior lights have revealed the paintings depicting the local area.
Rachel Peterson has been announced as the captain (store manager) for the Montrose location. Until her Montrose transfer, Peterson has worked at a Trader Joe’s in Los Angeles and has been with the company for about 10 years.
The grand opening will include a lei (a traditional symbol for the market) cutting with Trader Joe’s regional vice president Caroline Judd, Peterson and the TJ crew. The celebration will continue throughout the day with live music, food demonstrations, raffles and stickers for kids.
The new Montrose store is about 13,300 square feet. Trader Joe’s was originally named in recognition of its distinct grocery buying process, because their buyers search the world for great values and distinctive products. Store employees are referred to as crewmembers and wear brightly colored Hawaiian-themed shirts, according to a Trader Joe’s statement.
Each store includes the community it serves by surrounding the store with hand painted murals. For the Honolulu Avenue store, there are murals that depict the Montrose clock, Honolulu Avenue, local bistros and more.
Trader Joes has a tradition of being environmentally friendly. The Montrose building will be the first Southern California Trader Joe’s market to be aLEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building from the Green Building Council.
“Trader Joe’s opening up a market in Montrose was a direct result of community outreach efforts in 2007 led by the city where residents and business owners specifically requested a Trader Joe’s market to help anchor the [Montrose Shopping Park],” said Elena Bolbolian, project manager for the city of Glendale in an earlier CV Weekly interview.
When the new Trader Joe’s opens, the one in La Crescenta will close its doors.
“Trader Joe’s in La Crescenta is the second Trader Joe’s ever opened,” said Alison Mochizuki, Trader Joe’s spokesperson.
The decision to close the La Crescenta market was not made lightly, Mochizuki added.
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