Confessions of a Trader Joe’s Fan

It seems like, now more than ever, people are looking for ways to save money.  And it’s the everyday items such as food where people get really passionate.  Have you ever heard someone talk about Trader Joe’s Market?  You’ll hear things like, “I love shopping at Trader Joe’s. They have the best fill in the blank.”

I must confess I am one of those crazy TJ-loving people (and when I look at the excellent photo of the happy, orange TJ baskets by David Edwards, I smile). If it weren’t for the TJ’s pre-packaged, pre-washed pre-cut vegetables  I would not eat vegetables.  And don’t forget the prewashed salad.  In fact I don’t even shop at a “regular” market anymore.  There’s no need. TJ’s has everything.

The first Trader Joe’s opened in Pasadena in 1967.  They took their time opening up new stores.  No sense in rushing things. Currently they have 47 stores in Los Angeles County. But back in the 80s if you lived on the Westside of LA, you only had one option — the store on the corner of National Boulevard and Westwood Blvd.  It was a drive, but we did it.

In the last few years Westsiders finally got some love from TJ with not one but four new stores:

~  the Santa Monica store on Pico & 33^rd Street

~  the Sepulveda store on Sepulveda at National Blvd

~  the Westwood store on Glendon Avenue

~  and the newest store on Olympic near Barrington.

And the original Westside store on National is still there, too.  That’s five places to shop at a store that was eco-conscious long before the term even existed.

So what’s your favorite TJ item?  What? You’ve never been?  Now is the time.  What are you waiting for?  Go there, bring a friend, have some fun.  Did I mention they always have free samples of food as well as free samples of juice and coffee?

This short video says it better than I ever could. Watch it, and have a good laugh. LA loves TJ!