Joe Coulombe, founder of Trader Joe’s grocery chain is shown at the Trader Joe’s store in Huntington Beach on Wednesday, December 3, 1986. (Photo by John Blackmer, Orange County Register/SCNG ...

Like Aldi, Trader Joe got his start in the '60s. Joe Coulombe (yes, there really is a Joe behind the brand), was running ...

The first Trader Joe’s opened in Pasadena, part of Los Angeles county, in 1967. Yes, there really is a Joe — that would be Joe Coulombe, who was reportedly inspired by his global travels and ...

Trader Joe's was born in 1958 as a small chain of Southern California convenience stores opened by a drugstore executive named Joe Coulombe. In 1967 he ...

People love shopping at Trader Joe’s, but even the most ardent fan of this quirky store and its private-label brands might have missed these bits of lore. Surprising Facts About Trader Joe's ...