A Closer Look at Trader Joe’s September Opening in Foxborough

FOXBOROUGH- at 8 a.m. but will begin hiring at the end of this month.

Individuals interested in working at the neighborhood grocery store located at 350 Patriot Place can begin applying on July 30 at 10 a.m. Applicants must apply in person and can obtain an application on site or online at www.traderjoes.com/pdf/employment_application.pdf.

Trader Joe's is a unique, neighborhood grocery store with foods and beverages ranging from the everyday to the exotic. The Foxborough location will be the first store in the company’s chain of more than 370 stores that’s fully integrated into an NFL stadium site, according to a press release issued by the company.

The store will feature a festive décor that mixes traditional Trader Joe’s elements such as cedar covered walls and Hawaiian motifs, combined with a local flair that includes art celebrating the neighborhood and the home town team, the New England Patriots.

The Patriot Place Trader Joe's is approximately 16,000 square feet, according to the press release and will be the 18th Massachusetts location. The new Foxborough business will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, is scheduled to offer beer and wine, and will have plenty of customer parking spaces. It will be located in the South Marketplace between and in the space formerly occupied by Circuit City.

In addition, as a result of negotiations between Trader Joe’s and the town of Foxborough, the grocery store agreed to the following conditions following the April 24 Board of Selectmen meeting:

• Trader Joe’s won’t sell spirits until Jan. 1, 2013.
• Won’t sell alcohol when the gates open up at Gillette Stadium
• Won’t sell any spirits less than eight ounces.
• The license will commence on July 1, 2012.

After Trader Joe’s agreed to the town’s aforementioned conditions in April, the Board of Selectmen voted, 5-0, in favor of issuing Trader Joe’s a full liquor license, which was sold to the grocery store by .

Foxborough Chief of Police Edward O’Leary said at the April 24 meeting that the grocery store’s delay in selling spirits was a “good measure to take.”

“This is very prudent,” he said. “This will allow for the opening of the store to go forward. As of December [2012], we will have been through 18 major events [at the stadium with Trader Joe’s open] and learn how it works.”

Also part of the agreement with the town, Trader Joe’s will be working on a program to identify those using false identification to purchase liquor, which O’Leary has pointed out being a problem in town.

Trader Joe’s spokesman Chris Maguire told selectmen during negotiations the plan was to open the neighborhood grocery store in time for the start of the New England Patriots training camp on July 26.

But with construction not yet complete and hiring still needing to be done, Trader Joe’s announced on July 20it expects to open on Sept. 7, two days before the Pats open the 2012-2013 regular season in Tennessee against the Titans. The Patriots’ first home game with Trader Joe’s open will be Sunday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. against the Arizona Cardinals.

More About Trader Joe’s

Editor’s note: The following was included in Trader Joe’s press release.

Trader Joe’s began in 1958 in the Los Angeles area. Since then, Trader Joe’s has expanded to more than 370 stores in 33 states.

Trader Joe’s is truly a grocery store unlike any other. It is a  “store of stories,” meaning every item in the store has its own virtues - high quality ingredients, great flavor or simply an extraordinary price - many items often feature all of those qualities.

“Trader Joe’s offers more than 2,000 items under the Trader Joe’s private label, which includes Trader José's salsas, Trader Ming’s fried rice, Trader Giotto’s marinara sauces, in addition to specially purchased items.

Also, Trader Joe’s buys differently than other grocers – they purchase from manufacturers, not through distributors. They’ll take a brand name product, take out the preservatives and artificial colors and ingredients, and put it under their Trader Joe’s label to sell it at a real discount. 

Trader Joe’s introduces approximately a dozen new items every week, heightening the store’s adventurous appeal. Buyers travel around the world searching out unique products at great values. In order for an item to be sold in a Trader Joe’s store, it must pass the scrutiny of a discerning tasting panel. Thousands of items are tasted each year to find products that both appeal to the culinary adventurer and microwave aficionado.

The ‘Trader’ in Trader Joe’s refers to the way the company blazed a distinct trail through the grocery industry, searching the world for great values and distinctive products. Store employees, dubbed ‘Crew Members,’ consider themselves ‘traders on the culinary high seas.’

Crew Members sport brightly colored Hawaiian-themed shirts, adding to the friendly and light-hearted air of the store.

Check back with Patch for more updates on the store’s opening.