Joseph "Trader Joes" Coulombe 1930-2020 USAF Veteran

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"Trader Joe" Coulombe, founder of the nationwide fun food and wine store died today, leap-day, Feb. 29, 2020, at his home in Pasadena, CA, age 89. He opened his first store in Pasadena, CA in 1967. I've been shopping at TJ's since 1979, when it was a California-only thing, and many times at the first store he opened on Arroyo Parkway (just stay on the 110 Fwy North and it turns into Arroyo). Few things stay the same, but as you can see, the Mecca for 2 Buck Chuck and all kinds of cool beers, cheese, and other stuff, hasn't changed much in more than 50 years. Trader Joe sold out to some big German grocery conglomerate years ago, but they were smart enough not to mess with success, although the prices went up considerably from when Trader Joe's used to have "amazing deals" in the 70s and early 80s.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/29/business/joe-coulombe-dead.html

 

https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2017/08/168772/trader-joes-original-store-photos