Trader Joe’s announced Thursday plans to open a new store in 2017 on Western Avenue in Allston, according to a press release.
The store will occupy approximately 13,000 square feet of the bottom floor of the Continuum mixed-use project building, Trader Joe’s spokesperson Alison Mochizuki said.
The Western Avenue location will be the first Trader Joe’s in Allston when it opens in 2017, the release stated.
The popular grocery store prides itself on offering high-quality products at affordable prices, according to the release. Trader Joe’s is able to make their groceries more affordable by offering more than 3,000 items under their own private label and by purchasing from manufacturers whenever possible instead using distributors, the release stated.
“Trader Joe’s buys differently than other grocers,” the release stated. “In many cases, they will take a brand-name product, take out the artificial preservatives, artificial flavors, synthetic colors, and other undesirable ingredients and put it under their Trader Joe’s label to offer it at a price that is a real value.”
Trader Joe’s also introduces approximately a dozen new items from around the world every month. Before new products make it to the shelves, they must first pass through a tasting panel.
“Thousands of items are tasted each year to find products that both appeal to the culinary adventurer and the microwave aficionado,” according to the release.
Several residents of Allston said they are excited for the store to open in 2017, and said they prefer Trader Joe’s to Whole Foods Market.
Boston University student Mia Miller, 19, of Allston, said she is “thrilled” about one of her favorite stores coming to a more accessible location.
“I’m definitely pumped because Coolidge Corner is a little out of the way for me and so is Back Bay,” Miller said. “We definitely need more grocery options on campus.”
An organic food lover, Miller praised Trader Joe’s for being on the same level health-wise as Whole Foods, but better suited to a college student’s budget.
“Trader Joe’s is perfect for college students because it is affordable, fresh and I think an overall good brand to support,” Miller said. “I eat all organic and superfoods and I would probably go to Whole Foods more if it was closer, but it’s on the expensive side.”
Jacob Harrington, 27, of Allston, was excited to hear about a new Trader Joe’s store opening in his neighborhood.
“I like Trader Joe’s because it has a lot of different options of things to buy and I feel like it’s just a cool, different type of grocery store,” he said.
Harrington also said he prefers Trader Joe’s to Whole Foods, especially because of their price differences.
“Whole Foods is cool, but some of their products are really overpriced and I feel like Trader Joe’s is just more balanced overall.”
BU student Sydney Girasole, 19, of Allston, said the new Trader Joe’s will make it easier for her to maintain a healthy diet.
“[Trader Joe’s has] a lot of organic, healthy options and sell unprocessed favorites such as mac and cheese,” Girasole said. “I’m really excited for them to open up a store in Allston because that means it will be much easier for me to buy the regular items that I love.”
Although Whole Foods is another one of her favorite grocery stores, Girasole said she couldn’t pick between the two.
“I’m a big fan of both Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods,” she said. “I think Whole Foods has a larger selection, but Trader Joe’s has items that I wouldn’t want to live without.”
Alyssa Meyers contributed to the reporting of this article.
