South Pasadena Trader Joe’s Reopens after COVID-19 Outbreak

Trader Joe’s in South Pasadena on Mission Street reopened on Wednesday after an outbreak of the Coronavirus left at least three employees infected.

The store was closed on April 12 after an initial crew member tested positive for the virus. According to the company’s website, the last date the employee was in the store was April 6.

As of Monday, 17 cases of the Coronavirus have been reported in South Pasadena.

Officials with the company have also closed about a dozen stores in New York.

During the closures, the company sanitizes it stores and informs all crew members. The company continues to pay employees during store closures.

“At Trader Joe’s, there is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our Crew Members and customers,” the site said. “We believe in being proactive and transparent in addressing issues, and we value information and clear communication. With this in mind, we have temporarily closed some stores related to coronavirus (COVID-19) concerns, including for additional precautionary cleaning and sanitization. We have made sure all Crew Members at the respective locations have been informed and understand the steps to take to best safeguard their own health and the health of their community. While a store is closed, Trader Joe’s pays all Crew Members for their scheduled shifts.”

No Pasadena stores were shuttered.

Trader Joe’s was founded in Pasadena in 1967 and has about 200 stores in California.

The store’s founder Joe Columbine died last month at 89.