UWS Shoppers Greeted by Steel Drummers at Trader Joe's Opening Updated September 20, 2010 12:33pm

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By Ben Fractenberg

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

UPPER WEST SIDE — Shoppers showing up to the opening of the Upper West Side's new Trader Joe's might have momentarily thought they were entering Club Med.

Two steel drummers sang "Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole" while workers in Hawaiian shirts handed out lays during the Monday opening of the new Trader Joe’s at 72nd and Broadway.

"The anticipation has been building," said Upper West Side resident Sarah Worthington, 48. "They have everything."

Worthington’s friend, Judi Pollak, said the store was a great stop for busy mothers in the area.

"They have a lot of prepared, but healthy food," said Pollak, 38.

The line wrapped around half the store a little after 9:15 a.m. But shoppers didn’t seem to mind.

The wait also seemed less of a hassle to many than heading down to the almost always busy 14th Street location.

"A lot of people would travel to other stores who live around the area," said Trader Joe’s worker Sparkle Atkinson, 25, who was holding a sign signaling the end of the line. "Why not have something in the area for them?"

Other shoppers said the store was not as bad as other stores in the area.

"I don’t like Fairway [Market]," said local resident Amy Sckultz, 42. "It’s a mad house and people are rude."

Another Upper West Side resident, 75-year-old George Webb, said he thought Fairway would still do just fine because the store has more fresh produce options than Trader Joe’s.

Webb said he kept running into people he knew in the store.

"Everyone is here," he said.

By Ben Fractenberg, DNAinfo.com

Follow Ben on Twitter @fractenberg