BUSINESS

Take a sneak peek inside Trader Joe's Fort Collins

Pat Ferrier
patferrier@coloradoan.com
  • Opening 8 a.m. Friday%2C Feb. 27
  • 3500 S. College Ave.%2C Fort Collins

Alex Culp has launched five Trader Joe's throughout the country but still gets opening day jitters.

With his sixth store set to open at 8 a.m. Friday at 3500 S. College Ave., Culp said: "I'm a little anxious to get going. We are really excited to be here and expect to do well and have fun."

After more than a year of anticipation, Culp expects a large crowd Friday for the opening of the Fort Collins store.

On Monday, during a sneak peek for the Coloradoan, clerks tested check out stations, posted prices and stocked shelves at the 12,000 square foot store. A painter put the finishing touches on a mural of the vintage Mountain Avenue trolley and three shopping carts full of Hawaiian leis are ready to be handed out to the first 200 to 300 customers.

Fort Collins will be Trader Joe's sixth Colorado store but it will take on a purely Fort Collins look with murals of local sites and architecture like the trolley. CSU's Cam the Ram adorns the north wall, while a herd of cows rafting the Poudre River overlooks the dairy aisle.

The Hawaiian-themed grocer "caters to each community" it serves, Culp said, both in its murals and products it offers. With 3,000 to 4,000 different items on its shelves — far fewer than a King Soopers or Safeway — products that don't sell well are replaced by one more in demand, he said. How the store is stocked "depends on Fort Collins' buying patterns and what people are buying here."

Fort Collins, he said, "is a food focused town" full of adventurous eaters who are looking for good quality at good prices. Trader Joe's plans to look at stocking locally grown products particularly in the summer if it can find the right quality at the right price.

You won't find daily specials or buy-one-get-one coupons because the store offers everyday low prices, Culp said, and you won't find shelves full of brand names because 80 percent of products are Trader Joe's brand. That means they contain no synthetic colors, no artificial flavors, no artificial preservatives, no MSG or trans fats and no genetically modified ingredients, he said.

Culp won't say how many people were hired for the store, but about 80 percent are local hires new to Trader Joe's; about 70 percent are full time employees. Culp has worked for the company for 17 years and transferred to Fort Collins from Chicago.

The store sent out about 12,000 postcards to Fort Collins residents offering a free reusable Trader Joe's bag to anyone who brings in the postcard. "We expect to be giving away a lot of bags," Culp said.

Opening day begins with a ceremonial lei cutting with Culp, regional vice president Greg Paquet and Fort Collins Mayor Karen Weitkunat. Activities including food demonstrations, giveaways, balloons and more will continue throughout the day.

Trader Joe's began in 1958 in Los Angeles and has grown to more than 430 stores in 39 states. Anticipation has been running high since the niche grocer announced it would open in Fort Collins.

It had expected to be open in October, but construction delays at The Square, which is getting a multi-million-dollar makeover, pushed the opening to this month. Trader Joe's joins Sierra Trading Post as a key anchor at The Square in Midtown Fort Collins

Although known for its signature wine, Two Buck Chuck, Trader Joe's will not have a liquor license in Fort Collins. Under state liquor laws, a chain can have only one liquor license, and that Trader Joe's is on Colorado Boulevard in Denver.

What time does it open?

A: 8 a.m., but judging from other Colorado openings, lines will queue up much earlier. The store will be open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Q: Is there a formal grand opening ceremony?

A: Yes. Fort Collins Mayor Karen Weitkunat, store manager Alex Culp and regional vice president Greg Paquet will say a few words before cutting the ceremonial lei.

Q: Construction is still ongoing at The Square. Is there a plan to deal with traffic and parking?

A: Some local 4-Hers will help wrangle carts but store management believes the parking lot is big enough to accommodate customers.

Q: Does Trader Joe's have all of my regular grocery items?

A: No. Trader Joe's sells mostly its own brand. The Trader Joe's brand means they contain no synthetic colors, no artificial flavors, no artificial preservatives, no MSG or trans fats and no genetically modified ingredients, according to the store manager.

Q: I've never been to Trader Joe's before. How do I know what I'll like?

A: Trader Joe's has a liberal sampling policy and return policy. Employees can open anything you want for a taste. If you buy something and don't like it, bring it back to the store for a refund.

5 things to know about Trader Joe's

Will the Fort Collins store sell Two-Buck Chuck, the wine that it is known for?

No, you'll still have to travel to Denver for the store's inexpensive wine. Under Colorado liquor laws, a grocery store like Trader Joe's can have one liquor license in the state. The Denver store on Colorado Boulevard has that honor among Trader Joe's locations.

Can you do a week's worth of grocery shopping there?

You can, but the store sells mostly Trader Joe's brands and does not sell everything a household might need like toilet paper, paper towels and trash bags.

What is the best way to find out about what's in the store at any given time?

The Fearless Flyer, Trader Joe's newsletter, is a must-read for the latest bargains and products in the store.

How is Trader Joe's as an employer?

The company is generally considered to be a good employer that starts people off at about $9 an hour and offers frequent opportunities for raises. It provides health and dental insurance for employees who work more than 30 hours per week and a stipend for those who work fewer hours so they can buy their own health insurance.

How are Trader Joe's prices?

Generally considered lower than some other specialty grocers because they sell their own brands.