Northern
Westchester is cheering its first Trader Joe's as the popular grocery store opened its doors in Yorktown Heights today.
The
new store is located on Crompond Road in the Lowe's Shopping Center, near the
Taconic State Parkway exit for Routes 202 and 35. The
chain has stores in Scarsdale, Larchmont and Hartsdale,
but is the first in the northern part of the
county.
Many
fans of the specialty grocery store in this part of the county have been
anxiously awaiting today's opening, but many others have voiced concerns about
traffic issues.
Some say Route 202 in Yorktown
is expected to be clogged for the next four-to-six weeks as many come to check
out the new store.
But Yorktown officials say
they have been working with the store manager and property owner for a plan to
mitigate the traffic.
According to town officials,
off-duty Yorktown police, as well as private security, have been hired to help
direct traffic. The cost is being picked up by
the property owner and the Trader Joe's.
"We're
doing our best to make sure that with all the excitement that when people are
able to come, it's a good experience. It's a
good experience to come to Trader Joe's, it's a good experience to come to the town of
Yorktown, and also more importantly that people are safe," says Yorktown Town Supervisor Matt
Slater.
Town
officials say the new store is also creating 100 local
jobs.
A
ribbon cutting was held just before the store
officially opened at 8 a.m.