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Over 20 Years Ago
Trader Joe’s opened its doors in Winston-Salem at 8am on October 26, 2012, to the enthusiastic cheers of a long line of dedicated Trader Joe’s fans. The first crowds in the door were greeted by Hawaiian shirt-toting Trader Joe’s coffee-fueled employees, handed a lei and a free Trader Joe’s grocery bag.
Trader Joe’s opening brought a stampede of shoppers anxious to grab their favorite products. Managers were refilling shelves throughout the day as the excited crowd emptied them.
Photo by Kathy Solarino for mywinston-salem.com, © Cover Store Media, Inc. 2023
Trader Joe’s Today
All these years later, Trader Joe’s is still refilling shelves in the middle of the day as people come from all over the area to shop at their favorite store. Why? Simply put, there is no other store that competes with Trader Joe’s for innovative, delicious, quality products. What you find in the aisles there cannot be found anywhere else. Fresh fruit, a selection of nuts and dried fruit, frozen vegetables that taste like fresh, frozen easy-to-prepare dinners, meat, desserts, cheeses, dog treats, fresh flowers, and the wine and beer section all make up a store that has everything you are looking for and more. The prices are comparable to other stores, but the quality is exceptional.
All Trader Joe’s Products Are Winners!
Trader Joe’s picks winners for products to carry, hoping to find just what their customers want. There are a few branded items there. Most carry the Trader Joe’s name. They are always unique and exciting products. Some items are permanently available, and some they stock in limited supply. You never know what new treat you will find on the shelves, but because they introduce new products every week, only the strong sellers remain available. Products may be discontinued if the sales are not there. Many products, like The Mandarin Orange Chicken and Happy Trekking Trail Mix, are fan favorites and are promoted by customers. Trader Joe’s does not believe in coupons, discounts, or promotions. They focus on providing the best value every day.
Our Holiday Favorites
Only available over the November – December holiday season, the Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancake Mix and Harvest Spice Trek Mix are two products that we stock up and try to make last year round! They’re that good.
The Fearless Flyer
Throughout the year, Trader Joe’s publishes their Fearless Flyer. Trader Joe’s fans are always excited to see what is new and read all about the products in their store. The newsletter has backstories about products, recipes, and humor, but it always keeps shoppers informed. If you want Fearless Flyer delivered to your inbox, you can subscribe to keep up with what is new and exciting. As Trader Joe’s says, it is “As Always Free and Worth Every Penny.” Be warned, though…if you read through The Fearless Flyer, you will be unable to resist going to Trader Joe’s to pick up something for dinner!
Honored To Have A Trader Joe’s Store
It was a privilege for Winston-Salem to get their own Trader Joe’s Store. There are only 11 in North Carolina at this time. There are a total of 560 stores across the United States. You will not find them on every street corner or even in every town. The 13,000-square-foot store here offers over 2,000 products under its own label.
Store Address And Hours
The History Of Bringing Trader Joes To Winston-Salem
For almost ten years before Trader Joe’s opened Winston-Salem, dedicated fans worked diligently to make the dream of a home-town TJ’s a reality. Sure, there are other factors, but it is hard to ignore the fact that 40 people came out on a hot Saturday to an otherwise empty DASH Truist Baseball Park to film a song coordinated by TJ’s enthusiast and Winston-Salem resident, Tari Hanneman. They came with fan signs like you would expect to see at an American Idol concert, dressed in Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses – it was a festive afternoon that would make any company happy to witness in honor of themselves. The song was written by a group of locals who shared through lyrics their enthusiasm for all of the wonderful and unique products that make the Trader Joe’s experience so special.
Then there was the petition that went around via Evite in 2008 that went viral (before everyone was on Facebook!), got close to 500 signatures, and encouraged countless new location sign-up request forms to be completed in honor of Winston Salem.
In 2010, a group popped up on Facebook called “Bring Trader Joe’s to Winston-Salem,” which hosted 4,200 die-hard TJ fans who were very active in their group’s page discussions.
All who were involved and participated in the venture are responsible for making it happen!
This was the 7th location in North Carolina after opening its first store in Cary in 2006 and beginning the state-wide pilgrimages for Joe Joe’s and Two-Buck Chuck Wine.
Important to Continue To Show Support for Trader Joe’s in the Triad
Trader Joe’s is firmly established in Winston-Salem, but it needs to be supported by its fans to continue to exist. Those who shop there regularly know the quality and value. Newcomers or those who just stopped in once must experience the benefits and fun of shopping at this unique store.
What is your favorite Trader Joe’s product, and why? Let us know in the comments!
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