Buzz
Trader Joe’s parking lots have gained a reputation for being quite small, and for years, customers have been puzzled as to why.
But there might finally be an explanation, uncovered in a recent episode of the popular podcast 'Inside Trader Joe’s.' In the October 2022 episode, 'What’s Up With Trader Joe’s Parking Lots?', hosts and employees Tara Miller and Matt Sloan tackle this long-standing mystery.
As per Sloan, who is also part of the company’s marketing team, there are multiple factors involved—none of which involve saving money or intentionally irritating customers, as some online critics have suggested.
Colleen Michaels / Alamy Stock Photo'Like many things at Trader Joe’s, this can be traced back to the very first store on Arroyo Parkway in Pasadena. This location, which opened in 1967 and is still running today, has always had a notoriously tight parking lot—small and always busy,' Sloan explained about the original store.
The issue also ties back to city planning regulations. City officials allocate parking spaces based on the store’s size. For instance, a 200,000-square-foot store will receive far fewer parking spaces than a 700,000-square-foot one.
'When designing or assigning parking spots for retail stores, it depends on the size of the store,' Sloan explained. 'As you pointed out, our stores are much smaller compared to other grocers, and that definitely influences the number of parking spaces we get.'
Trader Joe’s aims to be the opposite of big-box retailers—welcoming, warm, and most importantly, compact, sticking to the ideal of being a neighborhood grocery store.
The issue is that Trader Joe’s attracts as many customers as the large retailers, making it feel busy and crowded almost all the time.
Social media has even joined in on the joke about Trader Joe’s parking lot struggles, turning it into a widely shared experience among shoppers. There's a Reddit thread titled 'Trader Joe’s Starter Pack' that showcases images of car jams, fender benders, and more.
But what else can you do? If you're after those seasonal treats (like Enchanted Jangle) or customer favorites (such as Everything But the Bagel Seasoning), you’ll have to face the parking lot. Just make sure to bring your patience along with you.
