Trader Joe's Grand Opening Packed With 'Fans'

A line of anxious customers were there as opened its doors for the very first time Friday morning, Nov. 4.

Inside, each aisle was packed with people. One group of ladies even took pictures with each other holding up products. Many customers called themselves Trader Joe's "fans."

"We've been driving all the way to East Liberty once a month. We fill up two carts—one with cold food and one with hot. Now it's less than five minutes away. Now I can buy a little bit at a time," said Lynn Duda of Bethel Park. She was the first customer to step foot into the store. "I have been pushing for this store to come to the South Hills for so long, I never thought it would happen."

Trader Joe's South Hills, located at 1630 Washington Road in Upper St. Clair, is Pittsburgh's second location. Its first is in East Liberty.

"I've been waiting for Trader Joe's to come out here. I get lost when I try to go to the other store," said Eve Abu-Obaid of Mt. Lebanon.

The store's manager, Jennifer Sourbeck, also calls herself a fan.

"I'm a fan, that's how I started working for Trader Joe's," she said. "The people who love Trader Joe's are huge foodies."

Sourbeck moved to Brookline from Detroit to open up the new store. So far, she's impressed with how nice Pittsburgh people are. She said "fans" were stopping by the store for weeks checking in to see how the progress was going.

Trader Joe's is a unique grocery store. It sells more than 2,000 products from basic to exotic. Eighty percent of the products are the store's private label. The products contain no preservatives, additives or artificial flavors.

Along with the health benefit, customers are attracted to the store's low prices.

"Everything is a really great price," Abu-Obaid said, as she pointed to the 69-cent pears.

Sourbeck said that's because the buyers go straight to the manufacturers and cut out the middle man.

She admits that Trader Joe's is not a one-stop shop.

"For example, there is no aluminum foil, sandwich bags or cooking utensils," Sourbeck said.

One of the most popular sections of Trader Joe's is the frozen food aisle.

"We know families need to be able to prepare 10-minute meals," Sourbeck said.

There are no meat, deli or bakery counters at Trader Joe's. However, meat, deli and bakery items are stocked on shelves along the outer walls of the store.

"We really try to make shopping fun and not a chore," Sourbeck said.

And customers agreed.

"I like the feeling, the employees are so nice, like Pittsburgh people," Duda said.

During the grand opening, each customer received a lei to wear. A steel drum peformance and face-painting for kids was planned for Friday afternoon.

The store's hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. No alcohol is sold at this location.

Are you excited about the new Trader Joe's in Upper St. Clair? Why or why not? Tell us in the comments.