By Scott Calzolaio

The rumors are true - Trader Joe’s is coming to Milford, and soon.

The growing zeitgeist that is Trader Joe’s, and the social media culture that comes with it, is set to bring its unique inventory to town by the end of the year. This will be the company’s 20th Massachusetts location, and the fifth major grocery store chain to open in Milford.

Milford Town Administrator Richard Villani told Milford Free Press that residents have been asking him for months about the neighborhood grocery store chain coming to town. 

"We welcome them to Milford," he said. "It's been one of the most asked questions, 'Are they coming? Are they coming?'" he laughed. "From talking to people, I can tell residents are really excited to see them coming to town."The store will be at the former site of Staples at 220 Fortune Blvd where contractors can be seen moving in and out of the now hollow building, while Trader Joe’s upper management conducts interviews in the old TGI Fridays building across the parking lot. 

Dozens of job listings are now available in anticipation of the store’s grand opening. The exact date they open is still unclear but the company website says, “Our Crew is working hard so we can open our doors in 2024.” 

The website also says Milford has been singled out as a perfect spot for their new store. An Aug. 29 post says, “We've consulted our maps and compass and have found a terrific location for a store in Milford, MA. We are proud to be joining the neighborhood, and to continue our commitment to providing nourishment to the surrounding communities through our Neighborhood Shares [food assistance] program."

Posts in town Facebook pages show that residents have shown interest in having a Trader Joe’s in town for years. Currently, the closest Trader Joe’s to Milford is in Framingham. 

The grocery chain was started in Pasadena, Calif. in 1967. They now run over 500 stores in 42 states.

For the full Trader Joe’s announcement, visit bit.ly/MilfordTraderJoes.