Workers have broken ground on the construction of a Trader Joe’s store in Denver, which is expected to open late this year.

Trader Joe’s spokeswoman Alison Mochizuki confirmed Monday that excavation began last week on the southeast corner of East Eighth Avenue and Colorado Boulevard and that the tentative store opening is set for the fourth quarter of 2013.

The Monrovia, Calif.-based specialty grocer plans to open two stores in Colorado, but work has not yet begun on the other property, in Boulder’s Twenty Ninth Street mall at the site of an Applebee’s restaurant that closed last spring.

Denver developer Jimmy Balafas said in September that he hoped the Denver store would be the first to open.

The 14,000-square-foot store and adjoining liquor outlet will sell beer, spirits and wine, including Trader Joe’s signature “Two-Buck Chuck” wine. The Boulder store will be able to sell 3.2 beer.

Colorado law allows grocery stores and chains only one full-strength liquor license.

John Mossman: 303-954-1479, jmossman@denverpost.com