Rumors of Trader Joe’s coming to West Des Moines are true. As of September, most residents heard that the store was coming to Iowa, but few knew the date. As of now, Trader Joe’s will be opening on Nov. 5, at 6305 Mills Civic Parkway.
This isn’t your normal grocery store. The Trader Joe’s website describes its products as “innovative, hard-to-find, great-tasting foods.” The products are chosen specifically for each location. Each week there are about a dozen new products brought in, and they may stick around for a while, or they may sell through and you will never see them again. Although some locations do not sell alcohol, for people 21 and older, the West Des Moines location will sell alcohol.
Store officials said they don’t have fancy promotions, coupons or discount cards at Trader Joe’s. The store doesn’t have sales on items, but says it instead keeps prices low every day.
With already 344 stores in 24 states, the store is slowing down the openings of new locations. The West Des Moines store is one of only five opening this year.
The inside of the new store is presently empty, but will soon be filled with items ranging from cage-free eggs to Thai lime-and-chili cashews. When you go through the double doors and look to your right, you will see a colorful mural of the countryside. Working your way counter-clockwise around the 12,000 square-foot store, you’re greeted with colorful murals on every wall. Even though the shelves are empty, there are workers busy setting everything up.
The employees wear bright Hawaiian shirts that represent the workers “searching the world for cool items to bring home to our customers.” Doesn’t the thought of people in Hawaiian shirts make grocery shopping sound more fun?
Lucky for you, if this job sounds interesting, the new store in West Des Moines is hiring. Just head down to Mills Civic Parkway from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday to get an application and apply.
History of Trader Joe’s
1967 The first Trader Joe’s opened its doors in Pasadena, Calif. and is still there today; same spot, same parking lot.
1972 Launched the first Trader Joe’s private label grocery product: granola.
1973 “Still trying to find ourselves”—a butcher shop, nuts in barrels, magazines and panty-hose. Yes, all of these items could be found at the local Trader Joe’s.
1978 The store finally stopped selling pantyhose; unencumbered freedom is glorious.
1981 Trader Joe’s was mentioned in a national magazine for their All American Nut Butter. Either it was a slow news week or Joe’s nut butter was just that good.
1984 Trader Joe’s hit the airwaves and started recording their own radio ads including behind-the-scenes stories about products with a signature sign off: “Thanks for listening.”
1992 Put the first handles on paper bags—how handy.
1994 A crew member in Santa Barbara, Calif. dressed up as a giant pickle. To this day, no one knows why.
2006 Trader Joe’s opened in downtown Manhattan on St. Patrick’s Day and the very first customer bought an energy bar.
