Trader Joe's opening second Sarasota store

A new grocery store is opening Thursday in Sarasota. Trader Joe’s will begin welcoming customers for a grand opening celebration at 9 a.m. to its location at 8199 S. Tamiami Trail, Suite 100, near Beneva Road, offering samples and a Florida bag giveaway. 

Previously, the 8,500-square-foot space was occupied by Staples, and it has been under construction for months in a shopping center that also includes Hobby Lobby and Dollar Tree.

More than 20 employees will staff the store, including new hires and those transferred from nearby Trader Joe's, according to a statement.

The new Sarasota store will be about 5 miles south of the other Sarasota Trader Joe’s, which is located at 4101 S. Tamiami Trail. That store opened in Sarasota in 2012 and at the time was the second Trader Joe’s location in the state after the brand made its Florida debut in Naples, according to sister publication YourObserver.com.

Since then, Trader Joe’s has grown to 29 stores across Florida, with Thursday's grand opening in Sarasota making it the company's 30th location in the Sunshine State. Orlando and Miami are the only other cities in Florida with two Trader Joe’s stores. There is also a Trader Joe's in nearby Manatee County in the University Town Center area off Cooper Creek Boulevard. There are three in the Tampa Bay market and one in Fort Myers along with the one Naples.

Hours at the new Trader Joe’s will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Headquartered in California, Trader Joe's was established in 1967. The company operates more than 635 stores in 42 states and Washington, D.C. The grocer does not have coupons, sales or loyalty programs. Instead, it says that it focuses on giving all customers “access to the best prices on the best products every day.”