Trader Joe's Founder Joe Coulombe Dies At 89

LOS ANGELES, CA — Joe Coulombe, whose vision of providing high-quality food and wine to a less affluent market came to life through the creation of popular grocery chain Trader Joe's, died Friday after a long illness, according to reports. He was 89.

Coulombe founded Trader Joe's in the 1960s, the Los Angeles Times reported, and soon after, the chain developed a cult-like following on its way to becoming a Southern California institution.

Coulombe was born on June 3, 1930, in San Diego and lived on an avocado ranch in nearby Del Mar, according to The Associated Press. After graduation, he was hired by the Rexall drugstore chain, where he establishing a chain of Pronto convenience stores, AP reported.

When Rexall lost interest in the stores, he bought them and had grown the chain to about a dozen outlets when the huge 7-Eleven company made a major push into Southern California, AP reported, adding it was then Coulombe knew he needed to go in a different direction.

Coulombe opened the first Trader Joe's in 1967 on South Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena. Today, Trader Joe's operates more than 500 stores in more than 40 states, according to AP, all of which offer rows and rows of high-quality, moderately priced healthy food and great wine.

In addition to his three children and wife of 67 years, Alice, Coulombe is survived by six grandchildren.