(October 27, 2014) Monrovia, CA – Trader Joe’s, a unique, neighborhood grocery store with foods and beverages from the exotic to the basic, has scheduled a Friday, February 13^th opening day for its Katy store.  The 12,500 square feet store is located at 2717 Commercial Center Boulevard and the trading hours will be 8 A.M. to 9 P.M. daily.  The store will feature festive décor that mixes traditional Trader Joe’s elements, such as cedar-covered walls and Hawaiian motifs, with local flair that includes art celebrating the neighborhood.

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.

Many area residents can expect to receive a copy of the Trader Joe’s “Fearless Flyer” in their mailboxes after the store opens. The Fearless Flyer is a somewhat irreverent description of a timely selection of Trader Joe’s products. It’s been called a cross between Consumer Reports and Mad Magazine. Each edition highlights a selection of Trader Joe’s products that the company buyers believe are worthy of customer interest, from comfort foods to items that are organic or boast other special attributes.

Trader Joe’s carries an extensive array of domestic and imported foods and beverages, including artisan breads, Arabica bean coffees, international frozen entrées, 100% juices, fresh crop nuts, deli items, vitamins, and more, as well as the basics, like milk and eggs – all at honest, low prices.

Trader Joe’s is truly a grocery store unlike any other.  Trader Joe’s is a  “store of stories,” meaning that every item in the store has its own virtues – high quality ingredients, great flavor, or simply an extraordinary price – and many items often feature all of those qualities.  Another significant point of difference is that all of Trader Joe’s prices are everyday prices. Trader Joe’s doesn’t have “sales” for a few days only to hike the prices back up again. Trader Joe’s prices change only when costs change— there are no fancy promotions, discount cards, or couponing wars.

So how does Trader Joe’s offer unique groceries at prices everyone can afford?  By offering more than 3,000 items under the Trader Joe’s private label, which includes Trader José’s salsas, Trader Ming’s fried rice, and Trader Giotto’s marinara sauces in addition to so many other 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.  Their buyers travel around the world searching for 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 the microwave aficionado.

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Trader Joe’s is a chain of neighborhood grocery stores featuring high quality imported and domestic foods and beverages at honest, low prices. Trader Joe’s (www.traderjoes.com) began in 1958 in the Los Angeles area.  Since then, Trader Joe’s has expanded to more than 400 stores in 40 states.