Trader Joe’s addresses conspiracy theories about parking lots.

Trader Joe’s Parking Woes: Explained

Benjamin Franklin once said that there are three certain things in life: death, taxes, and inadequate parking at Trader Joe’s. The beloved grocery store chain is known for its wide array of specialty foods, but equally infamous for its dreadful parking lots. In fact, the company even dedicated an episode of its podcast, “Inside Trader Joe’s,” to address customer complaints about parking.

“If you spend any time on social media, looking at things about Trader Joe’s, you will find there are lots of conspiratorial theories about our parking lots,” said Tara Miller, a Trader Joe’s insider.

So, what’s the deal with Trader Joe’s parking lots? According to Miller and fellow insider Matt Sloan, the problem is relative size. Trader Joe’s stores are typically much smaller than regular grocery stores, with fewer allotted parking spaces. Additionally, the stores tend to have more people per square foot, exacerbating the parking situation.

“Let’s say that 12,000 square foot store has 500 people visiting and the giant store has a hundred people visiting,” explained Sloan. “The parking lots are going to feel very different.”

While the obvious solution would be to make the stores bigger, Miller argues that this would change the essence of Trader Joe’s. “We have small stores, so they come with small parking lots,” she said. “If we had bigger stores, sure we’d have bigger parking lots, but we’d feel like a different store.”

And for those who think their local Trader Joe’s has a bad parking lot, Miller revealed that some stores have zero parking. “We try to get as much parking as possible,” she said. “However, in some municipalities, we can’t get any parking at all. We do have a number of stores throughout the country that don’t have any parking.”

Despite the parking woes, Trader Joe’s remains a cult favorite among shoppers. And as Sloan pointed out, parking can be an “energized experience” at many places. So, next time you’re circling the lot at your neighborhood Trader Joe’s, remember to thank the crew for keeping things moving and take up the challenge to find that spot.

Why We Love Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s is more than just a grocery store. It’s a quirky, fun, and affordable shopping experience that offers unique products you can’t find anywhere else. Here are just a few reasons why we love Trader Joe’s:

• House-branded specialty foods like Mandarin orange chicken, peanut butter-filled pretzel nuggets, and blueberry & vanilla chèvre
• Wide range of organic, vegan, and gluten-free items
• Imported chocolates and popular wines
• Small store size creates an intimate shopping experience
• Helpful and friendly crew members

So, despite the parking challenges, we’ll keep flocking to Trader Joe’s for our favorite products and the unique shopping experience it provides.