Trader Joe's to Celebrate Local Opening in Grand Style

When the ceremonial Lei is cut at 8 a.m. next Friday, Trader Joe's will officially be open for business at its location in Foxborough, a stone's throw from the Sharon line.

For those counting down at home - that's just seven days away.

The neighborhood grocery store's arrival to town has been well documented and

To help welcome Trader Joe's to the community, "Pat Patriot" and the 2012-13 Patriots cheerleaders will join Trader Joe’s Captain (store manager) David Ford, Regional VP Chris Maguire and the crew for a lei cutting ceremony to welcome new customers – Trader Joe’s style. The festivities will continue throughout the day with live music, free raffles for prizes, food demos and more.

Trader Joe's at Patriot Place is approximately 16,000 square feet – filling the space formerly occupied by Circuit City - and will be the 18th Massachusetts location – the first in the company’s chain that’s fully integrated into an NFL stadium site.

The new location – 350 Patriot Place, adjacent to - will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, is scheduled to offer beer and wine and will have plenty of customer parking spaces. The store will feature a festive décor that mixes traditional Trader Joe’s elements such as cedar covered walls and Hawaiian motifs, combined with a local flair that includes art celebrating the neighborhood and the hometown team, the New England Patriots.

Ford, the newly appointed Captain (store manager) of Trader Joe's at Patriot Place was the Captain in Hanover and has been with the company for more than nine years.

After the store opens, many area residents can expect to receive a copy of the Trader Joe’s “Fearless Flyer” in their mailboxes. The Fearless Flyer is a somewhat irreverent description of a timely selection of Trader Joe’s products, according to a press release issued by the company. It’s been called a cross between Consumer Reports and Mad Magazine. Each edition highlights a selection of Trader Joe’s products that the company buyers believe are worthy of customer interest, including comfort foods and items that are organic or have other special attributes.

Trader Joe's carries an extensive array of domestic and imported foods and beverages, including fresh baked artisan breads, Arabica bean coffees, international frozen entrées, 100 percent juices, fresh crop nuts, deli items, and vitamins and supplements, as well as the basics, like milk and eggs – all at low prices.

"Trader Joe’s is truly a grocery store unlike any other," the press release said.  "Trader Joe’s is a 'store of stories,' meaning every item in the store has its own virtues - high quality ingredients, great flavor or simply an extraordinary price - many items often feature all of those qualities. Another significant point of difference, all of Trader Joe’s prices are everyday prices. Trader Joe’s doesn’t have 'sales' for a few days, only to hike the prices back up again. Their prices change only when their costs change -- there are no fancy promotions, discount cards or couponing wars."

So how does Trader Joe's offer unique groceries at prices everyone can afford?

The company says it does so by "offering more than 2,000 items under the Trader Joe’s private label, which includes Trader José's salsas, Trader Ming’s fried rice, Trader Giotto’s marinara sauces, in addition to specially purchased items," according to the press release.

Furthermore, Trader Joe’s buys differently than other grocers, according to its press release.

"They purchase from manufacturers, not through distributors. They’ll take a brand name product, take out the preservatives and artificial colors and ingredients, and put it under their Trader Joe’s label to sell it at a real discount," the press release said.

Trader Joe’s introduces approximately a dozen new items every week, heightening the store’s adventurous appeal. 

"Our buyers travel around the world searching out unique products at great values. In order for an item to be sold in a Trader Joe’s store, it must pass the scrutiny of a discerning tasting panel. Thousands of items are tasted each year to find products that both appeal to the culinary adventurer and microwave aficionado," the press release said.

We're wondering, too, how Sharon residents feel about Trader Joe's opening right around the corner. Will you be a regular customer there? Let us know in the comments below!