Trader Joe dies at 89: Founder Joe
Coulombe passes away after long illness -
52 years after his first store opened
in California
Associated Press & Daily Mail (UK),
by
Staff
&
Lauren Edmonds
Original Article
Posted By: Imright,
2/29/2020 3:22:07 PM
Joseph Coulombe, a visionary who used cultural trends and innate retail instincts to create the popular grocery store chain Trader Joe's, died at the age of 89 in his Pasadena, California, home. Coulombe's son, also named Joe, confirmed that his father died Friday after battling a long illness and receiving hospice care. 'We're going to miss him a lot,' Joe, who lives in Seattle, Washington, with his wife, told the Orange County Register. 'I think people are going to remember the wonderful Trader Joe's concept he put in place, and especially his treatment of his employees. He really cared about them.' Joe remembers his father as an impressive businessman
Reply 1 - Posted by:
earlybird 2/29/2020 3:41:17 PM (No. 333075)
Interesting note in the comments that homes within 3 miles of a Trader Joe’s have increased values. No idea is that is fact or not. I do know that I have shopped at them since a long time ago when their first store on Arroyo Parkway (featured in article) was the only one in Pasadena. Its “produce department” consisted of some crates of fresh fruits and veggies arranged on the floor. No refrigerated produce cases. Everything came from the market that morning.
Now there are 5 or 6 plus a number in adjacent communities. We are now within easy driving distance of 3 plus several more (including the original) not that far away. Great stuff. And Joe Coulomne was known to be a very, very good man; an excellent employer. RIP, Joe...
7 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
Highlander 2/29/2020 3:56:40 PM (No. 333082)
Everybody likes Trader Joe. From hippie freaks to old white guys like me.
16 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
Ken M. 2/29/2020 4:48:53 PM (No. 333103)
Proud to say that I have been a customer since February 1968 (the first store, on what was then Arroyo Pkwy in west Pasadena). Have moved a few times over the years, and sadly most times there wasn't a TJs where I moved to. But thankfully they have always caught up with me. RIP, and many thanks Joe.
7 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
Obviousity 2/29/2020 5:12:04 PM (No. 333110)
Was a customer of Pronto market in Covina during the 60's. Many fuzzy but fond memories of Chateau Arroyo, 99cents with screw cap and slight effervesce. Met Mr. Coulombe in the early seventies and he was most kind.
4 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
zzzghy 2/29/2020 5:15:35 PM (No. 333112)
Bummer.
I'm in TJ's four, fives times weekly no matter where I live. It's kind of where I go to church.
RIP Joe. You did good.
6 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Lawsy0 2/29/2020 6:34:51 PM (No. 333153)
While visiting family in Walnut Creek, CA, I went to Trader Joe's there. I stayed a long time looking around. I noted that it wasn't my mama's Piggly-Wiggly, but for a deep southerner, it was a tourist attraction. (That was the same touring day I was taken to a Starbucks since I had never seen one. I wish I hadn't bothered ,)
6 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
DVC 2/29/2020 7:13:23 PM (No. 333192)
We've had them here for a decade or more, but I've never actually been inside one. I'm fine with the three grocery stores nearer our home, feel no need to go out and check it out.
2 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
droopydog 2/29/2020 8:03:08 PM (No. 333215)
They are a Southern California fixture. They do seem to go into some funky locations with tight, inadequate parking. I think they were negotiating some cheap rents.
2 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
earlybird 2/29/2020 8:37:13 PM (No. 333224)
Not sure where #8 lives, but the numerous TJs near us have very big parking available. The original on Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena, not so much.
Note to poster with three markets who doesn’t need another one, TJs is quite different. Worth a look...
3 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
NYbob 2/29/2020 9:20:39 PM (No. 333233)
Lucky enough to live near to Wegman's flagship store, which is next to a mall with a Trader Joes. Plans are in motion to have a Whole Foods store less than a mile from Wegmans in the other direction. All within 7 miles of a Walmart super store with a large food area.
TJs has some unique items that are very good, but it's big advantage is it is the smallest of those mentioned. So you can circuit the entire store in what would be the produce section of Wegman's. I've seen the Whole Foods stores in Boston and they have no advantage worth shopping there, as far as I am concerned. Same for Walmart. Wegman's works hard at doing it right so I respond to that as a shopper.
0 people like this.
But, but Trader Joe Coulombe didn't build that..... right?
Well, that's exactly what community organizer Stinky would claim.
1 person likes this.
Never been in a TJs. Aldi's owns Trader Joe's ? Not a fan of Aldi.
It seems like a life well lived. Rest in peace.
0 people like this.
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