Coralville Trader Joe’s to open next week

The long-awaited Trader Joe's in Coralville is just days away from opening.

The food store chain confirmed Wednesday it will open the store, 920 Ponseti Way, on Friday, Oct. 6.

A grand opening ceremony will begin at 7:55 a.m. and the store will officially open at 8 a.m. The store will have murals that feature local landmarks such as the Old Capitol Building, the Iowa River and Hancher Auditorium, the company said in a news release.

It will be only the second Trader Joe's in Iowa. The other location is in West Des Moines.

The 13,000-square-foot store also will be the latest tenant to open in Iowa River Landing, the 180-acre mixed-use development south of Interstate 80 and west of the Iowa River.

Monrovia, Calif.-based Trader Joe's markets itself as a specialty grocer, selling a variety of organic and healthy foods. frozen items, drinks and baked goods. Many of its items bear the company's own branding.

Stores often come with a nautical theme and store managers are called 'store captains” and employees 'crew members.”

The company first announced the Coralville store last year. When it was announced, Iowa City-Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau President Josh Schamberger said Trader Joe's was among the most requested stores by residents.

'People will travel to your community to shop at a retailer like Trader Joe's,” Schamberger said at the time.

A Hy-Vee also is under construction, in Coralville, on the border of Coralville and North Liberty.

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