The wait for Farmer Joe’s is almost over. The new Cape Coral grocery store specializing in fresh produce and meats announced it will open the 55,000-square-foot Pine Island Road store on Jan. 18.

Owner Lee Snyder plans to employ over 400 people at the store. It’s a concept Snyder dreamed up the idea of a year-round, one-stop shop for local produce after hosting seasonal roadside markets in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers. 

The store is expected to focus heavily on perimeter departments like bakery, meats, produce and seafood. Snyder said the produce department is 13,000 square feet. 

Farmer Joe’s is partnering with over 20 farmers in Southwest Florida, including Gargiulo Farms, Rojo Farms and Hanshaw Farms in Immokalee, and across the state. It also purchased 20 acres of strawberry patches in Plant City.

WINK News contributed to this report