Trader Joe's Set To Open Friday In Pinecrest

PINECREST (CBSMiami) – The highly anticipated opening of Trader Joe's, an extremely popular specialty grocery store, will take place on Friday in Pinecrest. It's the company's first store in South Florida and fans can't wait for it to open.

"I love this store, "said Eleonor Scheno. "I'm so excited for this. I think we need something like that in this neighborhood."

While the store isn't open for business just yet, CBS4's Gaby Fleischman got a sneak peek inside Wednesday.

"We are finally here and we are so excited to be here," said Jodi McClough of Trader Joe's. "This is going to be the fifth store in Florida to follow Naples, Sarasota, Gainesville and Tallahassee which just opened last Friday."

With only two days to go before its grand opening, employees are busy stocking shelves and getting prepped for opening day at the 13,500 square foot store on South Dixie Highway just south of Dadeland Blvd. It's located on the 9200 block of South Dixie Highway, where a Borders bookstore used to be located.

Fans who stopped by Wednesday were hoping for a glimpse inside but will have to wait until Friday.

"I think it opens today," said one person who then learned, "I have to wait until Friday.

Trader Joe's has a cult-like following for its gourmet and organic items, often value-priced, including prepared foods. The store also carries staples such as bread and milk, pet food and flowers.

"We truly are a unique neighborhood grocery store. We carry everything from the exotics to the basics," touted McClough. "A majority of the stores products are Trader Joe's private label. Some of the most popular are "Two Buck Chuck," bottles of wine for 2.99 a pop and Trader Joe's famous cookie butter."

McClough said Trader Joe's is also famous for its private label items.

"Eighty-percent of our products fall under the private Trader Joe's label that means it's free of artificial colors, flavors, ingredients, and preservatives."

While Trader Joe's is known for its Hawaiian-style, the Pinecrest location definitely has some South Florida flare. There are murals of Miami Beach and in the dairy section is Sun Life Stadium.

"We have to represent right? This is South Florida and we wanted to cultivate the neighborhood. There are a lot of foodies here and we wanted to celebrate that with our murals and signage," explained McClough.

The new store has hired 100 local employees and they are still taking applications.  Click here  to download an application or get one in person at the store.

Store hours are 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. daily.

Since its launch in 1958 in the Los Angeles area, Trader Joe's has expanded to more than 390 stores in 35 states.