Newton’s second Trader Joe’s opened Thursday on Needham Street.
By 9 a.m., nearly 40 people had gathered outside 165 Needham St, waiting for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The new grocery store is in a space that housed a Stop & Shop until it closed in August 2024.
Joe Gionet, the store’s captain and general manager, said the team had been planning and preparing for the opening for two months.
“We found it was a great size location, great parking, great place to kind of be easily accessible, and really looking to try to give every customer a store in their community that’s easy to get to,” Gionet said.
Gionet, who has worked for Trader Joe’s for 12 years, said this location has upward of 80 full-time and part-time employees, including college students and retirees. This store is the 25th store in Massachusetts.
Early shoppers Thursday received a free stand-up collapsible grocery bag. The shelves were neatly stocked with a wide variety of goods, from fresh produce to frozen foods and an array of flowers. The store, which holds an alcohol license, offers a selection of beers and wine. Shoppers will also find new products of the season, such as rice pudding, gingerbread ice cream sandwiches and baklava.
The classic Trader Joe’s murals also lived up to expectations. This store highlights Newton elements and landmarks such as Fig Newtons, the Needham Street Bridge and “Supper Falls.” They were painted by the New England street artist JIMBOE.
Lindsay Levine, 37, found out about the store’s opening on Facebook and decided to stop by. “I’m excited that it’s here mostly because I live nearby, so for me it’s very convenient,” Levine said.
With the Northland project—a new housing complex that will provide a total of 800 housing units—in the works, Trader Joe’s may become a popular shopping destination for local residents.
Maxine Bridger, 82, and her husband live five minutes away from the store, and they are frequent customers of the Newton Nexus shops. “It’s really nice to have another grocery store after Stop & Shop closed,” Bridger said.
However, she is concerned about the traffic on Needham Street. “Needham Street is going to be a total wreck once the Northland opens,” Bridger said.
In July, when Trader Joe’s announced it was opening a store in Newton Nexus, dozens of comments on the Newton Real Estate Forum Facebook page raised concerns about traffic. Some users said Needham Street is always congested and that the new Trader Joe’s could make the situation even more chaotic. Some also worried about whether there would be enough parking, given the surrounding retailers, restaurants and ballet school.
“Needham Street can be challenging,” Gionet acknowledged. With over 200 parking spaces in Newton Nexus, though, parking shouldn’t be a big issue, he said.
“We want to welcome the whole community, both our shoppers who know and love Trader Joe’s, as well as invite anyone who’s not familiar to come in to see what it’s about—the art and fun products and just meet the crew and be a part of it,” Gionet said.
This story is part of a partnership between the Newton Beacon and the Boston University Department of Journalism.
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