COLONIE — With the Capital Region's first Trader Joe's opening Friday, police are preparing for intense foot and car traffic.

The highly anticipated specialty grocery chain will open at 79 Wolf Road at 8 a.m. Friday, and its arrival is expected to flood the street and Sand Creek Road with people eager to sample its products.

The store's parking lot has a mere 85 spaces. The chain had originally planned to lease space across the street at the NBT Bank parking lot but decided late Tuesday to drop that idea.

"We will not be leasing the spaces across the street at the bank for safety reasons," said Alison Mochizuki, a spokeswoman for the chain.

The chain has worked closely with Colonie police to plan for the opening, said Lt. Ken Pero, who leads the Colonie police department's traffic division.

"Trader Joe's has actually contracted with the town for supplemental police services," he said.

The store will pay the town's going rate of $60 an hour for each officer. On the first two weekends, Friday through Sunday, three officers will be on duty the entire time the store is open, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day. Monday through Thursday, the store will pay for two officers for the entire day.

"They've done a really good job trying to control the traffic," Pero said. "I think it's going to be real heavy the first weekend."

Shawn Minihane is the store's captain, the title the chain gives to its managers. He has experience opening a prior store.

"We'll have a police officer in the parking lot, and an additional police officer directing traffic," he said.

Minihane also has hired additional employees to work just for the opening to show customers where to park.

On the weekends, Pero said, a third officer will be stationed at the corner of Wolf and Sand Creek roads.

While that intersection has a traffic signal, he said, the chain wanted to ensure pedestrians' safety by having a police officer there, too, to be sure pedestrians cross at the intersection and with the traffic light.

"They have been very proactive working with us and the community," Pero said. "They want an officer to make sure people don't cross in front of traffic."

The store also has a detailed plan for handling the foot traffic entering the store to prevent it from spilling into the parking space, Pero said.

"It's going to be a structured line roped off throughout the property but not in the parking lot," he said.

More Information At a glance What: Trader Joe's What: Specialty grocery that aims for low prices. When: Opens 8 a.m. Friday. Store hours will be 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week. Where: 79 Wolf Road, Colonie What to expect: Lots of store brands, from sauces to cookies. Packaged meat, but no butcher. Dairy products, produce and flowers. No ready-to-eat meals. Excessively friendly staff. If you go: Traffic will be heavy for the opening and probably for the first few weeks. Parking is limited to the store's lot. On the Web: http://www.traderjoes.com/ Coming Thursday A look inside Trader Joe's. See More Collapse

The store sits next to a vacant Friendly's restaurant, but Mochizuki said there are no plans to buy the building and tear it down for additional parking.

People who aren't planning to go to Trader Joe's might want to avoid the area, Pero said.

"It's going to be more congested than usual," he said. "Have patience and watch for pedestrian traffic because there is going to be more pedestrian traffic than usual."

Pero said he thinks local residents will find ways to park, but the store draws people who drive long distances and will be less familiar with local streets.

tobrien@timesunion.com • 518-454-5092 • @timobrientu