Local

Opening of new Trader Joe's causes traffic problems in Winter Park

WINTER PARK, Fla. — Business owners were feeling the overflow of traffic Friday as the new Winter Park Trader Joe's opened its doors to the public.

Central Florida's first Trader Joe's grocery store opened its doors Friday morning on US-1792 in Winter Park.

Customers lined up very early Friday. One woman told Channel 9 she arrived at 7 p.m. Thursday but wasn't allowed in the parking lot so she waited at a nearby parking lot until about 4 a.m.

People sat in line on their chairs and brought entertainment and several shopping bags they've collected from Trader Joe's stores around the country.

The first woman in line told WFTV she's been excited about the new store since it was announced and even changed her Facebook profile picture to a picture of a sign that's been posted in front of Trader Joe's for months announcing the store is coming.

Throughout the morning, shoppers capitalized on popular items like the Two-Buck Chuck, an affordable wine that flew off the shelves and needed to be restocked in the first 20 minutes of the opening.

"It took us awhile to get in, and there is lines everywhere," said shopper Charlene Lemieux.

While aisles were crowded inside the store, lanes of traffic were crowded outside.

Winter Park police stayed busy on their Segways, monitoring the safety of pedestrians and keeping up the flow of traffic in and out of the grocery store's parking lot.

"We have partnered with the city of Winter Park police and we will continue to do that to help deal with any of those concerns people may have," said Tim Weaver of Trader Joe's.