Aloha! Customers Line Up Around Trader Joe's For Reopening In Westfield

WESTFIELD, NJ — Longtime fans and beloved Trader Joe's customers packed the parking lot and lined the entire building for the Westfield location's grand re-opening early in the morning on Friday.

Customers were greeted with Hawaiian leis, cheers and applause as they entered the store at 8 a.m. on Dec. 2.

"Today is such an exciting day," said Westfield Trader Joe's Captain Casey Latsko. "We are thrilled to be back in the community and thank our patrons for their patience while we rebuilt."

Police cars were on hand to keep the traffic under control as the parking lot was filled to the max. Customers even filled the adjacent metered lot next door.

Shoppers filled their carts with everything and anything and every register was manned with a cashier to handle the overload of excitement.

"I am so happy, so very happy," said Maria Canico, a Mountainside resident. "I was driving to Millburn just to shop before."

Along with the locals, shoppers also came from Somerset County.

Claudine Langrin of Somerset, who has a daughter in Watchung Hills Regional High School School, had a full cart at 8:05 a.m.

"I came for juice!" Langrin laughed as she pointed to her cart. "I am extremely excited they are back!"

The store had been closed for almost a year after a roof collapse in January during the blizzard caused extensive damage to the Elm Street location.

The Westfield location of Trader Joes is located at 155 Elm Street.

(Photos and video by Alexis Tarrazi

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.