Hundreds of shoppers lined up before 7 a.m. Sept. 2, at Merriam's new Trader Joe's, the city's first grocery store since 2018.

The California-based chain opened its 9,498-square-foot store at 8700 Shawnee Mission Parkway, anchoring the $102 million Merriam Grand Station Marketplace. The line stretched out the front door and around the corner, the Johnson County Post reported.

Merriam had been without a grocery store since Hen House Market left Merriam Town Center in 2018. Mayor Bob Pape, now in his second term, was among the opening-day shoppers.

"I am ecstatic. I'm really excited at the fact that we're now bringing a grocery store back to Merriam," Pape told the Johnson County Post. "Not just that it's a grocery store, but it's a destination grocery store such as Trader Joe's."

The store sits at the northwest corner of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Antioch Road, on the former site of the Antioch Library branch. The Johnson County Library relocated that branch to Merriam Plaza, next to the Merriam Community Center, freeing the land for redevelopment. A former Caribou Coffee and a gas station were also demolished to make way for the project.

Drake Development, led by president Matt Pennington, spearheaded the mixed-use project. Pennington told the Johnson County Post that the earlier Merriam Grand Station project across the street, which replaced a long-vacant Kmart, gave his team the momentum to land Trader Joe's after earlier grocery recruitment efforts fell through.

The city of Merriam purchased the land and owns the Trader Joe's property. To help fund the project, the city committed $32 million in bonds and extended the tax increment financing (TIF) district around Interstate 35 through 2037, KSHB reported.

A community improvement district (CID) tax adds 1% to purchases at the Marketplace site, but grocery stores are exempt under the city's CID policy.

Inside, the store features Kansas City- and Merriam-themed décor. Murals of barbecue sauce bottles and Union Station line the walls near the ceilings. Prints of local school mascots, including the Hocker Grove Middle School eagles and the Shawnee Mission North bison, hang from pillars throughout the store.

The Merriam location is Trader Joe's third store in the Kansas City metro and second in Johnson County. The chain also operates stores at 8600 Ward Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri, and 4201 W. 119th St. in Leawood. The new store hired more than 50 employees from surrounding areas, according to the Kansas City Star.

The store does not sell alcoholic beverages.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Beyond Trader Joe's, the full Marketplace development calls for more than 200 apartments with at least 18 affordable units, additional retail space, one to two sit-down restaurants, green space and walking paths. An Aldi is also planned for the former OfficeMax space at 5830 Antioch Road at Merriam Town Center. No opening date for the Aldi has been announced.