Trader Joe's in Brooklyn sneak peek
Photos of new Trade Joe's in Brooklyn by Dave Sanders
As construction workers tend to last-minute details and workers stock shelves, some residents are saying Friday’s opening of Trader Joe’s in Brooklyn can’t come soon enough.
-Click here for photos from inside the new Trader Joe's
“A lot of people are walking by every day, and they are really excited,” said Greg Glei, the store manager of the chain’s Brooklyn branch. “If the door is open for some reason they poke their head in. They are also leaving us signs to open sooner.”
The store is at the intersection of Court Street and Atlantic Avenue, an area that borders Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Boerum Hill and downtown. Trader Joe’s is a low-price grocery store that carries domestic and imported brands. About 80 percent of their products are under their in-house brand, which helps customers save money, said spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki.
The 14,000-square-foot store is housed in the former Independence Bank Building, with soaring arched windows, antique chandeliers, marble paneling and a carved roof. The building, originally constructed in 1923, stands on the site of an important Revolutionary War battle. Because of the importance of the site, Trader Joe’s worked with the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission to maintain key features of the building, like a plaque commemorating George Washington’s victory over the British near the front doors.
The artwork in the store includes hand-painted murals by store crew members who went to the Brooklyn Historical Society to get pictures of landmarks like Coney Island, the Brooklyn Bridge and Ebbet’s field. The signage of the store was designed to recreate the look of an old-town market, with fonts that would have been used when the building was constructed, Glei said.
“When we got here, everything was peeling because it had been empty for an entire year,” said Mari Jaye Blanchard, one of the store’s sign artists, who transferred photos she had taken of Prospect Park into murals that will be the backdrop for the fresh-cut flowers section. “Now it looks pretty great. We wanted to blend old school Brooklyn with what it looks like today.”
The store will carry fresh produce, meat, dairy products along with grocery staples and frozen food. The branch, however, will not have Charles Shaw wine, nicknamed “Two Buck Chuck” for its low price-point.
Ryan Mackey, a Brooklyn Heights resident, is excited the store is moving in a few blocks away from his apartment.
“I’m tired of eating from Key Foods and would like to have another option,” said Mackey, 30, a theater producer, of his current neighborhood grocery store. “Key Foods started renovating and making it more organic friendly. It’s funny how Trader Joe’s is giving stores a run for their money and it hasn’t even opened yet.”
-Click here to peek inside the new Trader Joe's
What: Trader Joe’s Grand Opening, with Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, live music from a steel drum band, free giveaways to first 100 customers as well as raffles and tastings
Where: 130 Court St., Brooklyn
When: Friday, Sept. 26, 9 a.m.
Comments (2)
I moved out to the west coast 11 years ago (California first, then Arizona) and I'm telling you guys that you'll LOVE Trader Joe's. We always shop there and they have a lot of really cool items. Make sure that you check out the wine section as they have a lot of wines from all over the world.
Enjoy!!! :-)
Trader Joe's is the best! I live in Phoenix, Arizona and Trader Joe's is a weekly stop for me. I often buy their ready made salads that are very low in calories but great in taste. And best of all...they are cheap! They even have a brand of wine that costs $2.99. It actually won some wine award and the judges were shocked that it was this inexpensive brand. I saw it on one of the morning shows; either GMA or Today Show. They also have "Mandarin Orange Chicken" in the frozen food section. This is delicious and quick and easy to make. It only takes about 17 minutes in the oven and I serve it over rice. My niece lives in Brooklyn and I emailed her this article and told her to check Trader Joe's out.