Trader Joe’s is opening its newest Southern California store on Monday in South Pasadena. The Monrovia-based chain is halfway through an eight-store expansion in the region. It’s also opening another 16 stores nationwide.

The store at the corner of Fair Oaks and Monterey Road is the second in South Pasadena. The grocery store got its start in Pasadena in 1967.

The store captain is Bryan Lo. He and the crew members will host a ribbon cutting just before 9 a.m. on Monday.

Trader Joe’s said this new store at 1129 Fair Oaks Ave. will hire 50 staff from the area and transfer in 45 others from neighboring stores.

Other Trader’s Joe’s opening in the expansion include:

Northridge: 9224 Reseda Blvd.Canyon Country/Santa Clarita: 19037 Golden Valley Road.

Ladera Ranch: 27542 Antonio Parkway.

Murrieta: 40388 Murrieta Hot Springs Road.

Also stores in San Diego County:

Poway: 13644 Poway Road.

Santee: 9680 Mission Gorge Road.

The chain, founded in Pasadena by Joe Coulombe, has a loyal fan base that has grown from California to the East Coast.

The chain operates 555 stores in 42 states and Washington, D.C.

Each year, fan favorites are ranked in a “Customer’s Choice Awards.” The winners range from Mandarin orange chicken, to dark chocolate peanut butter cups, spicy chips and cheddar cheese dip.

Coulombe sold Trader Joe’s in 1979 to the Albrecht family, owners of the Aldi Nord supermarket company. Trader Joe’s is run separately from the Aldi discount grocery chain.