Another day in South Florida, another Trader Joe’s opening.

South Florida’s eighth Trader Joe’s in two years opened Thursday at 1560 N. Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale.

More than 100 people lined up outside the new store ecstatic to have a Trader Joe’s closer to their homes. Several said they’d been driving north to Boca Raton, west to Pembroke Pines or south to Pinecrest to get their hands on items sold only at Trader Joe’s, from Two Buck Chuck wines to almond croissants.

Gail Sawyer had a false start. She took a nap yesterday, woke up around 7 p.m., put on makeup and headed out ready to cruise her new neighborhood store.

“Ma’am, it’s only Wednesday,” an employee reminded her when she asked where was everyone else. Back home she went.

But she got it right on Thursday. Sawyer, 62, was among the first in line when she showed up around 6:30 a.m. for the 8 a.m. grand opening.

“I’m here for their chai tea latte mix,” she said with a wide smile.

In the past two years, Trader Joe’s have popped up from Pinecrest in Miami-Dade County to Palm Beach Gardens in Palm Beach County. Hundreds of people flock to the stores for each grand opening, lured by the chain’s upbeat customer service, low prices, quirky and uncommon inventory.

Peanut butter filled pretzels, $2.99 for a 16-ounce bag. Pumpkin tortilla chips, $1.99 per 7-ounce bag. Whole wheat butternut squash gyoza, $3.79 for a 16-ounce bag. Traditional favorites range from Speculoos Cookie Butter to Two Buck Chuck wines. There’s also regular household items such as toilet paper and soaps.

Ann Neufeld of Fort Lauderdale said Trader Joe’s is like “a poor man’s gourmet shop.”

“We can afford feeling luxurious without breaking the bank,” Neufeld said.

The Fort Lauderdale store is one of two retailers that have opened for business at new shopping center 1600 Commons, developed by Boca Raton-based Halvorsen Holdings. Office Depot is the other.

Construction crews are still working on spaces that will house an Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza restaurant, Nordstrom Rack and Mattress Firm. Opening dates for those retailers have not been announced.

Trader Joe’s growth across South Florida is part of a wave of grocery chain expansion in the area. An Aldi grocery store also opened Thursday at 21759 State Road 7 in Boca Raton. The grocer has been adding stores in Broward and Palm Beach counties, including recent ones in Cooper City, Palm Springs and Fort Lauderdale.

Organic grocer Whole Foods Market has increased its presence in the tri-county area with new shops this year in Miami, Pompano Beach and West Palm Beach. The Fresh Market also plans to open two stores early next year at new retail centers: one along North Military Trail, north of Yamato Road in the planned Park Place development, and another in Fort Lauderdale, at 3800 N. Federal Highway, just north of the new Trader Joe’s.

Smaller chains Tunie’s and Lucky’s Market also have opened or have plans to open shops this year and next in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

No other Trader Joe’s openings are scheduled this year.

Eight down. More to come?

, 954-356-4526, Twitter @MiriamValverde