Traer Joe's is a privately held chain of specialty grocery stores headquartered in Monrovia, California. As of May 2008, Trader Joe's has a total of 299 stores. Its stores are located most densely in Southern California, but the grocery company has locations in 22 other states and Washington, D.C. Trader Joe's was founded by Joe Coulombe and is currently owned by a family trust set up by German billionaire Theo Albrecht, one of the two brothers behind Aldi.