Believe it or not, ribbon-cutting ceremonies are still a thing. During a time when listening to or reading the news can be a little distressing, lots of us are looking for a reason to smile.
Coming together for the opening of a new business is an opportunity for communities to celebrate something exciting that’s happening in their town.
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In some spots, people might be excited for a new athletic field, new hospital, or new school. But in other places, the opening of a Trader Joe’s grocery store is cause for a party.
A quick read through the Trader Joe’s Reddit thread (r/traderjoes, which has 423K members) will reveal just how stoked people are when they finally get a Trader Joe’s in their zip code.
Trader Joe’s is committed to high quality and low prices.
Image source: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Trader Joe’s keeps prices low
Trader Joe’s is popular for a couple of reasons. One is its commitment to high-quality staples and specialty foods. The retailer is also known for its low-tech, almost old-fashioned way of doing business — you won’t find a self-checkout or smart cart at TJs.
And then there are the low prices. This is arguably what keeps customers coming back.
Trader Joe’s is able to keep prices down for two reasons. First, the stores have a relatively small footprint compared to mainstream grocery stores (this is also a reason for TJ’s notoriously bad parking).
Related: Trader Joe’s rejects move Walmart and Target both made
And, two, they private-label a lot of their food items.
The company buys brand names of hundreds of products and then puts the Trader Joe’s name on the label. One enthusiastic Redditor, CookieButterLovers, shared a comprehensive list of Trader Joe’s products s/he swears are private label, including:
Joe Joe’s Vanilla Sandwich Cream Cookies – Country Choice Organic Vanilla Sandwich CremesJojoba Oil – Desert EssenceKefir – LifewayMango 100% Juice Smoothie – NakedMeyer Lemon Cookie Thins – Dewey’s Meyer Lemon Moravian CookiesStep Up To The Snackbar Mix – Stonewall KitchenTeas (boxed) – Celestial SeasoningsTea Tree Oil – Desert EssenceTriple Ginger Cookie Thins – Dewey’s Triple Ginger Moravian Cookie ThinsUltra Chocolate Ice Cream – Double Rainbow Ultra Chocolate Ice CreamUnsweetened Green Tea Beverage – TejavaVegan Marshmallows + Mini Marshmallows – DandiesVegetable Masala Burger – Tandoor ChefVegetable Root Chips – TerraVery Green 100% Juice Smoothie – Naked
More Food News:
McDonald’s, Starbucks targeted by rival fast-food chain’s takeoverPopular retailer unveils affordable line with unexpected brandOreo celebrates 113th birthday bringing back fan favorite
Related: Trader Joe’s rejects move Walmart and Target both made
While a mainstream grocery store may carry as many as 50,000 items, Trader Joe’s stocks about 4,000 items, 80% of which bear one of its brand names. Many of their items are seasonal, including some cheeses and speciality items like puff pastry.
The limited selection doesn’t appear to be dissuading loyal Trader Joe’s shoppers who are increasingly making the store their primary grocery store, according to Placer.ai.
What new Trader Joe’s are opening in 2025?
Last year, Trader Joe’s opened 34 new stores, and the company continues to expand. The retailer experienced year-over-year (YoY) visit and visit-per-location growth, according to Placer.ai, with visits growing by 6.2%.
The privately held chain currently has more than 530 stores in the U.S. and has plans to open at least a dozen more this year.
Here are Trader Joe’s locations opening in 2025, according to the company’s website:
Tracy, Calif.Yucaipa, Calif.Sherman Oaks, Calif.New OrleansWoodbridge, New JerseyGlenmont, New YorkBoston (West Roxbury)Westminster, Colo.Exton, Penn.Oklahoma City (Northwest)Myrtle Beach, South CarolinaMurfreesboro, Tenn.
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