All About Trader Joe's

Almost 35 years ago, Joseph Coulombe started a small chain of convenience stores in the Los Angeles region. Pronto Markets soon morphed into Trader Joe’s—a mecca for exotic prepackaged foods and much, much more.

From its cedar-lined walls to staff clad in Hawaiian shirts, this food store (with a popular outpost in Westwood) has a cult following amongst foodies and the common man alike. Why? Because they have a very simple formula: sell tasty food at value prices.

The is only three aisles wide, but can stock a kitchen as well as a mega-market. The selection there features everything from basics like house-brand "British" (English) muffins and Kashi cereal to natural Applegate Farms deli meat and Trader Joe’s mango chicken sausage to exotic cheeses and unique dried fruit mixes.

Shop there on a Sunday morning or weeknight and you can cruise the aisles in peace (to an eclectic soundtrack featuring everyone from Sly & The Family Stone to Phish). Watch out for high-traffic times such as Saturday afternoon. Parking is limited, as the stand-alone shopping center features another merchant (a liquor store—a plus to those imbibing or entertaining that evening), so drive with caution there.

Another plus to the Trader Joe’s experience is its customer outreach. The staff is always friendly and answers questions such as “What is unfiltered cranberry juice?” (Answer: the pulp is in it). They seem to have no qualms about checking the stockroom if your favorite Turkey Meatballs seem to be sold out in the freezer aisle. If they see you waiting on a long register line, they might ring a bell at the courtesy desk to alert a staff member on the floor to open up another register. And, if you have a little one shopping with you, the store offers mini-carts for toddlers to cruise along and seasonal stickers (by request).

The Fearless Flyer, Trader Joe’s monthly newsletter, highlights seasonal specials and is sent via snail mail. For those who are not into print, its website offers a digital version as well as links on everything from party planning to coffee basics. There’s even cookbooks dedicated to the store.

So, next time you’re bored with your traditional supermarket run, try something different at Trader Joe’s–you may just become a regular there!