Hayes Valley's much awaited Trader Joe's
has opened its doors, just 0.6 miles from NEMA San Francisco. This 12,874-square-foot store on the corner of Laguna and Fulton in Hayes Valley is on the ground floor of a condominium building, three blocks west of City Hall. The interior of the new store is quintessential Trader Joe’s with Crew members in aloha shirts and murals highlighting the nearby San Francisco City Hall, Davies Symphony Hall, and an ensemble of instruments and musical notes to highlight the nearby Fillmore District’s history of being the Harlem of the West.
Why do Trader Joe’s Crew Members wear those colorful, bold shirts? Vibrant, bold shirts are the "uniform" worn by the Crew of adventurous traders on the culinary seas. TJ’s searches the world over for fantastic, interesting items to bring home for customers to discover. They think grocery shopping should be fun, not another chore.
“I feel like it’s going to change my life,” said Aaron Vergith, an assistant manager at Ritual Coffee who lives at Fell and Gough streets, just four blocks from the new store. “I’ve just been lacking the good snacks and the produce. Just having it accessible is going to be a huge quality of life improvement.” Reported SFGate.
With ample parking and a Laguna Street storefront, the shop promises convenience alongside the familiar selection of Trader Joe's goods. The entrance to the store’s parking garage is on Fulton Street. The new Trader Joe’s is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
Trader Joe's held its grand opening, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony with a crowd of eager shoppers cheering as the store's doors opened for the first time. TJ’s is already earning glowing reviews on Yelp and Google:
“It's only day one, but shelves are stocked with every(!) product (including the Japanese soufflé cheesecakes that I've been searching for) and the employees are all smiles.”
“Huge space, very friendly and supportive staff, amazing items. What more could you ask for? Ecstatic to have Trader Joe’s in Hayes Valley!”
“I'm VERY happy this opened! This is a win being 4 blocks from my house, need more affordable spots to grocery shop, a score for this neighborhood.”
“Huge underground parking garage. So glad this opened up in the neighborhood, really big space for a Trader Joe’s.”
“Yay TJs! This location is clean and well stocked. Definitely plan on making it my regular store.”
TJ Insider scoop: What do the bells mean at my local Trader Joe’s? “The bells are a kind of Trader Joe's Morse code. Those blustery PA systems just didn't feel right to us, so we came up with a simple system to communicate, à la our maritime (Trader’s on the culinary seas) association.
One bell lets our Crew know when to open another register. Two bells mean there are additional questions that need to be answered at the checkout. Three bells call over a manager-type person. And Three short bells–two long bells–three short bells… now we’re just playing.”
In line with its established tradition, Trader Joe's plans to continue to donate 100% of its unsold products that remain fit for consumption to various non-profit and community-based organizations, signaling the brand's ongoing dedication to social responsibility. As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, these donations are part of the company's longstanding Neighborhood Shares Program, which aims to reduce waste and support those in need.
Trader Joe's in San Francisco stated, “We see ourselves as your neighborhood grocery store. Step inside and you'll find unconventional and interesting products in the Trader Joe's label like Mandarin Orange Chicken and Cold Brew Coffee Concentrate, as well as everyday basics like milk, eggs and fresh produce. Most importantly, we offer all of our delicious, quality products at the very best prices. We’re happy to be part of your community, and proud to offer you unique products and an exceptional shopping experience, every day.” We are so excited to have Trader Joe’s in the neighborhood.
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Image Credit: Trader Joe's on Facebook
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