Trader Joe's and other local developments coming to Coeur d'Alene

COEUR D'ALENE, ID. — 4 News Now told you last week about a brand new Trader Joe's coming to Coeur d'Alene.

However, more developments are on their way to the Lake City, exciting local businesses while some worry things may be growing too fast.

The excitement is building as people in north Idaho gear up to welcome the area's first Trader Joe's.

"On social media, I swear for the last six years, it seems to be the most speculated and talked about organization that I've seen," Linda Coppess, CEO of the Coeur d'Alene Chamber, said.

Trader Joe's, the beloved grocery chain carrying specialty foods, is finally coming to Coeur d'Alene.

Some say it's about time.

"Me and my girlfriend drive all the way over to Spokane just to shop at Trader Joe's," Josu Sanders, who lives in Coeur d'Alene, said.

Bringing the grocery chain to the area won't just bring tasty frozen meals, but more jobs to the area and more money into the local economy.

"Obviously, jobs in store, right?" Coppess said. "But also during the development of the process, there's construction jobs and other types of organizations that will create jobs to bring it here in the community. People aren't going to just come to Trader Joe's and leave, but they might shop at other shops, they might go to local restaurants, but it just brings more revenue and more shopping to our community."

Trader Joe's isn't the only new development coming to the area. The Coeur d'Alene Resort is looking to expand its presence downtown, and the City Council is looking at a proposal to add a Marriott in downtown as well.

"I'm excited about those as well," Coppess said.

Local businesses are excited about the extra foot traffic these developments could bring.

"In the winter time, it's almost like a ghost town down here and we really need it, with the expansion of [the] resort and everything, and Trader Joe's hopefully will bring in some more customer base for us," Junior Mujtaba, general manager at Crafted Tap House, said.

But there is also a concern that things are growing too fast.

"Rent, wage, everything is just skyrocketing and changed so much," Mujtaba said. "I'm scared, but change, at the same time, [I'm] still excited for it."

4 News Now does not have a set timeline for the new grocery store yet. Stay tuned for updates.