Retail: Trader Joe's shooting for fall opening

OLYMPIA – Neighborhood grocery store chain Trader Joe’s has narrowed its Olympia store opening date from some time this year to this fall, a spokeswoman for the company said Thursday.

Spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki said the Monrovia, Calif., based company is “shooting” for this fall to open a 12,500-square-foot store on the city’s west side at 1530 Black Lake Boulevard S.W.

Construction also has started on the site to change a former Good Guys electronics retailer into the Trader Joe’s store, Olympia building permits specialist Pam Fant said.

Trader Joe’s is spending $1.5 million on tenant improvements, $300,000 on exterior changes to the building and $11,000 to $12,000 on signs, Fant said.

Once the Olympia store opens, Trader Joe’s will operate 15 stores in the state. It also has a store in University Place. Nationwide, the company operates more than 300 stores in 25 states.

Rolf Boone, The Olympian