What's in Store: Trader Joe's Opens in Westminster

Trader Joe's is a grocery store with a magical reputation. With more than 600 locations across the U.S. — 205 in 46 states, including California where the chain was born in Pasadena in 1967 — it's known for its self-branded products throughout the aisles, from snack chips to cereals and frozen food, reasonable prices and reliable quality.

The Denver area has had Trader Joe's for some years. The first location, on Colorado Boulevard, opened in 2013. ow there are nine stores in the state, from Colorado Springs to Fort Collins, with Boulder in between. There are two other stores in Denver and one each in Greenwood Village, Littleton, Parker... and now,, Westminster.
The Westminster Trader Joe's opened Friday to a party atmosphere that included upbeat renditions of rock and pop songs performed by the Rocky Mountain Steel Band to entertain the lines of people waiting to enter. Once inside, staff (they're called "crew members") handed each shopper a Trader Joe's shopping bag made for Colorado (true fact: Trader Joe's shopping bags, especially the Colorado ones, which have illustrations of the mountains and sporty lifestyle, are very popular and treasured gifts  in Japan, where there are no Trader Joe's).
Each section of the 9,000-square-feet store, from produce to the deli to the refrigerated and frozen sections, as well as the aisle of snacks, canned good and bakery, was jam-packed with customers who are already true believers of the chain's curated product mix, and with curious newbies who just had t check it out for while it's brand-new.

Alex Crone, a crew member who was helping manage the grand opening chaos, describes the company as "I think it combines fun and groceries, which is just a crazy combination, but it's worked for almost 60 years, and customers love it."
He adds that employees love it too. "And then the company really gives the support to the team, where we have more employees than most stores, you know, most companies, really, and we have more support on the floor. We don't have self checkout. It's about the people, it's interaction, and it's fun, like we try to keep a good vibe going."
One thing that Denver area customers don't think has been a good vibe is the parking, particularly at its stores in Denver on Logan Street and Colorado Boulevard, as well as in Boulder, is the parking at Trader Joe's. Crone is diplomatic and says, "So it depends on the real estate, where we can get in and all that. But it is a corporate decision."

It's true, that many Trader Joe's in other states have plenty of parking. And the new Westminster one, which is in a strip mall a few doors down from Barnes & Noble, has plenty of parking that doesn't require steering through a maze of one-way spots.

Crone acknowledges that this market has requested a location in the northern part of the metro area "for a long time."
Now there is one to serve everyone who lives in a northern 'burbs. Grab your Trader Joe's shopping bag and head on up!

The new Trader Joe's is at 9350 Sheridan Boulevard, Westminster, open daily 9 a.m.-9 p.m. More information at traderjoes.com.