Trader Joe's will open its first store in New Orleans on Thursday, with another to follow later. Why it matters: The grocer's expansion raises the stakes in southeast Louisiana's crowded grocery scene. The big picture: The Mid-City store opens at 9am Thursday at 2501 Tulane Ave., says The Feil Organization, which owns the property.

Trader Joe’s will open its first New Orleans location on Aug. 14, bringing 80 new jobs and a national grocery brand to the city’s Tulane Avenue corridor.