Trader Joe's Coeur d'Alene opening draws near

Trader Joe’s is scheduled to open in Coeur d’Alene before the end of the year. 

“The community seems to be as excited as we are,” said Nakia Rohde, public relations manager, on Monday.

She said an exact opening date has not been determined. One sign at a Trader Joe’s in Spokane indicated a November opening. 

The national grocer announced earlier this year it was coming to Coeur d’Alene. It will be at the longtime home of Runge’s Furniture, which is undergoing renovations. Trader Joe's will take over most of the space, while Runge's, which is downsizing, will maintain a smaller presence just off Fourth Street. 

The store will be at 303. E. Spokane and the project is valued at $2.7 million. 

Trader Joe’s will hire more than 60 people, Rohde said. It has been conducting interviews for about two weeks and is continuing to interview applicants daily. 

"Crew members" earn around $16 to $22 an hour, with benefits, Rohde said. 

“Everyone does everything,” she said. “A little bit of checking, stocking. They work as a team to get everything done that can be done in a grocery store in a day.” 

Advancement opportunities to “mates,” or assistant managers, are available, with 80% of such promotions coming from store crew members. Store managers are referred to as “captains.” 

Trader Joe’s is opening across the street from Pilgrim’s Market, which is locally owned and approaching its 25th anniversary. 

Rohde said they selected their site because they believe it is a good fit with the neighborhood and will serve the community well. 

"At Trader Joe's in Coeur d'Alene, we see ourselves as your neighborhood grocery store. Step inside and you'll find unconventional and interesting products," it states on the Trader Joe's website.

The arrival of Trader Joe’s, known for low prices on healthy products and a strong following, has generated a lot of attention and anticipation of its opening date. 

“Yay! So excited!,” posted Lisa Redd Bunce on the Bring Trader Joe’s to Coeur d’Alene Facebook site. 

“So excited. No more driving to Spokane in the winter. This one will be 5 minutes from my house,” wrote Barbara Misterly Trepte. 

Trader Joe's has two stores in Spokane and two in Idaho, in Boise and Meridian. This will be its first in North Idaho. There are nearly 600 Trader Joe's in the U.S., with about 200 of them in California. 

According to Zippia.com, Trader Joe's annual revenue is about $13 billion, and it has about 50,000 employees.