Riverdale was ready for Trader Joe’s.
Before the newest Utah location even opened for business Friday, cars filled the grocery store’s parking lot and flooded into neighboring businesses’ spots. A line of eager shoppers wrapped around the side of the building, waiting for the doors to finally open.
First, there was fanfare. Area high schoolers with the Mountain Star Marching Band regaled the expectant crowd with triumphant-sounding songs. Then, the store’s “captain,” Myles Bradshaw, sliced through the shiny red ribbon draped out front, at last letting people enter.
“It’s amazing,” Bradshaw said, considering the size of the crowd, which a Riverdale police officer at the event estimated to be at least 1,200 people.
Some had been there at least as early as 5:30 a.m., when Bradshaw showed up to prep for the big day.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Customers line up for the opening of Trader Joe's in Riverdale on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Employees celebrate the opening of the new Trader Joe's in Riverdale on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Kira Escobar, who went to the opening with a group of friends all sporting red baseball caps that read “Trader Joe’s” (except the J was an H), said the crowd did nothing to dampen her enthusiasm for the new store, the northernmost in Utah.
“We don’t get much good stuff up here,” she said. “Obviously we had to show up.”
Without a Riverdale location, she was driving about 35 minutes to get to a Trader Joe’s in Salt Lake City. Now, she said she can get here from her home in five minutes.
When the store was first announced, she said, “the group chats were blowing up,” and her and her friends decided months ago to show up opening day.
Once inside the store, Escobar and others were welcomed by smiling, clapping employees. The walls were decorated with murals of local landmarks including Hill Aerospace Museum, Ogden’s Historic 25th Street and Union Station.
Bradshaw said he particularly liked the classic truck depicted in the Historic 25th Street mural.
He said he has been at other Trader Joe’s store openings in the past, but as the corporation’s popularity has grown, shoppers’ first-day excitement has escalated.
“We’re just happy to be here,” he said.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Employees cheer on the first group of customers entering the new Trader Joe's in Riverdale on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Customers line up for the opening of Trader Joe's in Riverdale on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025.
Later, in the parking lot, Cori Orozco was loading her groceries into her car. A regular at WinCo Foods, she said she thought Trader Joe’s prices were a little higher but was still excited to come back, hoping to browse the aisles without needing to weave through so many people.
Before she left, she had managed to pick up only a few things, among them the chain’s popular Mandarin Orange Chicken.
“They have good stuff,” she said.
The Riverdale location is Utah’s sixth Trader Joe’s, joining others in Cottonwood Heights, Draper, Orem and Salt Lake City, which has one in Sugar House and another on 400 South near 600 East.
Two other future Trader Joe’s locations in Utah have been announced — one in Holladay and another in Herriman.