Trader Joe's Opens at Desert Ridge Nov. 13, With a Second Phoenix Store Coming to 44th and Thomas

PHOENIX, AZ — North Phoenix finally gets its own Trader Joe's. The store at Desert Ridge Marketplace, off Tatum Boulevard and the Loop 101, opens Friday, November 13, and a second new Phoenix location is already waiting in the wings at 44th Street and Thomas Road in Arcadia. Two new grocery stores in one city means two new crews, and the second one has not been hired yet.

Desert Ridge opens tomorrow. If you missed that crew, the Thomas Road store is the next door to knock on.

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📍 Business at a Glance

Business	Trader Joe's, Phoenix (Tatum)
Opens	Friday, November 13, 2026, 8:00 a.m.
Address	21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Suite 1030, Phoenix, AZ 85050 (Desert Ridge Marketplace)
Hours	8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. daily
Size	About 15,000 square feet
Phone	480-999-3209
Concept	Specialty grocery, including beer and wine
Industry	Grocery / retail
New jobs	No headcount announced

Trader Joe's Desert Ridge: What Opens Friday

Trader Joe's own store page for Phoenix (Tatum) lists the Desert Ridge location as opening Friday, November 13. 12News reports the doors open at 8 a.m., with daily hours of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The store fills about 15,000 square feet at the Vestar-owned center, and it will carry beer and wine along with the usual bakery and produce.

It is the fourth Trader Joe's inside Phoenix city limits, joining Ahwatukee on Chandler Boulevard, Paradise Valley on Shea and the Town & Country store on 20th Street. Until now, Desert Ridge shoppers drove roughly six miles to the north Scottsdale store.

Next Up: 44th Street and Thomas Road in Arcadia

The bigger opportunity for job seekers may be the store that has not opened yet. Trader Joe's lists a second new location, Phoenix (Thomas Rd), at 4519 E. Thomas Road in the Arcadia Crossing center on the southeast corner of 44th Street and Thomas. The company page says only "Coming Soon," with no opening date. Phoenix New Times reported that construction and buildout were expected to wrap by December, but Trader Joe's has not set a date, so we will not guess one.

A store has to be staffed and trained before it opens, so hiring typically comes weeks ahead of the doors. Get your application ready now, not when the banner goes up.

💼 The Jobs a New Trader Joe's Needs

Trader Joe's has not published a headcount for either Phoenix store, and we are not going to invent one. What we can tell you is how the company staffs its stores. Most of the work is done by Crew Members, who run registers, stock shelves, build displays, sample products and talk to customers, often all in the same shift. Above them are Merchants, the supervisory step, and a store leadership team headed by the Captain and Mates.

Expect lifting, early stocking shifts and weekends. A friendly, unscripted way with shoppers counts as much as grocery experience. Applications go through the Careers link on the Trader Joe's website, and you can choose a specific store.

On pay, Phoenix has no city minimum wage, so the Arizona state floor applies everywhere in town. It rises from $15.15 to $15.65 an hour on January 1, 2027. Many grocers start above that line, so check the posted rate on each listing.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Trader Joe's at Desert Ridge open?

Friday, November 13, 2026. 12News reports an 8 a.m. opening and daily hours of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Where is the new north Phoenix Trader Joe's?

21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Suite 1030, inside Desert Ridge Marketplace near Tatum Boulevard and the Loop 101.

When does the Trader Joe's on Thomas Road open?

No date has been announced. Trader Joe's lists the 4519 E. Thomas Road store as coming soon. Local reporting expected buildout to finish by December.

Is Trader Joe's hiring in Phoenix?

Trader Joe's has not announced a headcount for either new store. New stores need full crews, so check the Careers section of the Trader Joe's website, pick the store you want, and watch for postings.

What is the minimum wage in Phoenix?

Phoenix follows the Arizona state minimum: $15.15 an hour in 2026, rising to $15.65 on January 1, 2027. Many grocery and retail employers start above that.

Get Ahead of the Next Opening

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