Trader Joe's

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. One morning, while loading groceries into his car, a regular noticed something odd in the backseat—a small envelope with his name on it. Inside was a handwritten note: ‘Your next purchase will change your week.’ Curious, he went inside and picked up a random item—some exotic spice blend no one in his family liked. Later that day, his neighbor popped over for dinner, complaining about their bland meals. Turns out, Trader Joe’s had delivered just what they needed: an entire case of unexpectedly delicious seasoning.

2. At dawn, when most people were still asleep, a delivery driver pulled up to Trader Joe’s with an unusual cargo: a small potted plant that kept singing ‘Happy Birthday’ on repeat. As he approached the entrance, the song grew louder and more insistent, waking up a nearby neighbor who was just starting her morning jog. She stopped in surprise, looked around, and then burst out laughing—thinking it was some sort of prank. Turning to her friend later that day, she said, 'I thought someone had stolen Trader Joe’s voice!’

3. At midnight, when the streets of Los Angeles were quiet and dark, a delivery driver pulled up to Trader Joe’s with an unusual load. The security guard, dozing behind the counter, perked up as he heard the familiar sound of the loading bay doors opening. The driver whispered something about ‘special orders,’ and the guard nodded sleepily. Suddenly, a bag of organic kale flew out of the truck and landed on his head. With a startled yelp, the guard looked around, only to see everyone in the neighborhood standing there, bags filled with Trader Joe’s goodies. Turns out it was just another late-night shopping trip for LA locals.

4. At dusk, as a regular was checking out, the cashier whispered, ‘Did you know that if you buy exactly seven cans of our special sauce, the eighth one is free forever?’ A few days later, our regular showed up with an armload of jars and bottles. The cashier raised an eyebrow but smiled. As he left, he turned back and said, 'Don’t worry, I only took what’s mine!' Everyone laughed, knowing it was just another Trader Joe’s urban legend.