A brand new Trader Joe’s has opened up at the old Big Lots location at 2083 NE Burnside Road in the Oregon Trail Center. The grand opening took place on October 10 at 8 a.m. along with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The first shoppers were lined up outside the door at 5 a.m., awaiting the opening ceremony. By 7:50 a.m., people were lined up past Wingstop waiting for the doors to open. Before the opening, Gresham’s Mayor, Travis Stovell, was talking to all the people in line about his excitement for this new addition to the town. He mentioned, “We’ve been working on this for like five years, so this is very exciting!” I also got the chance to talk to Geri Van Beek, who works in Economic Development for the City. She said, “They’ve been wanting to put one here for the last 20-ish years; this will be great for the city.” Also in attendance were the press, many photographers, and Sam Barlow’s very own Adina Kiriac.
Store workers and the new manager, Ellen, held up a ribbon for the ceremony. Ellen announced to the crowd, “They’re so excited for the grand opening and welcoming our whole community in this morning to your Gresham Trader Joe’s!” The staff was welcoming and there were smiles all around. As soon as Ellen cut the ribbon, shoppers flooded into the store, and the crowd erupted into cheers. The shelves were fully stocked with snacks and produce, and at the entrance of the store, fresh flowers and pumpkins were ready to buy. Also sold in the store are a variety of beauty products, cleaning products, animal treats, and the very popular tote bags. At Trader Joe’s, instead of using a traditional PA system for staff to communicate, they use bells. The company took inspiration from the Morse Code system, and communicate through the number of times the bell rings, up to four. They chose this system because it fits the company’s maritime theme and is a low-tech, easy way to communicate. At Trader Joe’s, you can also go on a scavenger hunt for an octopus plushie, and once you find it, you can cash it in at checkout for a prize!
During checkout, one cashier said, “I’ve been to four or five store openings and I’ve never seen anything like this,” when talking about the large number of people attending the grand opening. He also said that captains and crew members from other Trader Joe’s like to come to support the grand opening and help out on the first day. All the staff were very kind and welcoming, and one cashier even gave her own recommendations of things to try. She recommended having their creamy mac and cheese with crushed-up chili and lime tortilla chips sprinkled on top.
Overall, the Trader Joe’s opening was a great success and will thrive here in Gresham!
