Deep Joanna, our source inside the Brooklyn Trader Joe’s store, has more information about the opening on Friday:

Opening:

At this weekend’s opening of Trader Joe’s in the landmark bank building on Atlantic Avenue at Court Street, the first 100 people on line will get PRIZES. Crew members have been asked to line the entryway at opening on Friday to cheer the customers on. There will be tastings a-plenty—even in the aisles—during the opening.

A Caribbean band, which is costing the company about $3200, will perform at the opening. Marty Markovitz, the store manager and the regional manager will be speaking on Friday. Senator Chuck Schumer’s attendance is in question; he may be a bit busy this week with the mother of all bailouts.

Here are some facts about this private company that is now about to become a major player in the Brooklyn grocery scene:

–Trader Joe’s has grown from a 6 million to 10 billion dollar company.

–There are plans for a vast expansion within the NYC area alone, including a few more stores in rooklyn, even more in Queens, and even more all over Manhattan. Look out NYC, Trader Joe’s is-a-coming all over.

— This California company is debt free, everything inside the store walls is paid in full.

–No managers or upper management were hired from outside the company.

About the Brooklyn Store:

–Yes, the rent on Court Street is huge, more than Trader’s usual price point.

About Home Delivery:

–For the time being, there will NOT be home delivery at the Brooklyn store; it is not cost effective for Trader Joe’s to do it. However, this might change, the store will make a decision based on customer demand. That is what happened at the Manhattan store and they now have home delivery. Another reason not to do it: Because there are less or no preservatives in Trader Joe’s product, it is more likely for items to spoil before getting delivered home.