I’ve Never Been to Trader Joe’s—These 4 Unexpected Features from My First Trip Made Me a Frequent Shopper

During my first year of college, I had a friend who would drive 40 minutes to a nearby city just to shop at Trader Joe’s. I never judged because I’d often drive 20 minutes to buy only slightly cheaper gas, but I couldn’t quite understand the hype. I’d never been to a Trader Joe’s, and I hardly even knew what it was. But apparently, it was worth the long drive.

Over the years, I kept hearing more and more about Trader Joe’s, mostly about cult-favorite food products and the friendly staff members who go above and beyond to ensure quality shopping experiences. At 22, I decided I had heard enough, and it was finally time to see what everybody was talking about. So, with zero expectations and only a vague idea of what to expect, I walked through the doors of a Trader Joe’s. These are my main takeaways and the reasons I’d go back again (and again).

1. Handmade Signs

One of the first things I noticed after walking inside was the handmade signs. The intricate wall murals immediately reeled me in, followed by the larger, decorative information boards for the flower displays. Everything was colorful, and I couldn’t help but feel like I had stepped into a farmers’ market.

As I walked through the aisles, I found myself smiling at every sign—there was one with a shark telling me to “say cheese!” and another colorful display of foods declaring “culinary adventures start here.” But my favorites were the tiny, handwritten notes beneath each product, offering fun facts and tips while I shopped.

I was impressed that all products had information cards, and I happily spent some time skimming over them. They didn’t share anything truly groundbreaking, but it was still fun to read that TJ’s milk has all nine essential amino acids. There were also fun suggestions on how to pair certain products, like pouring spinach dip over fresh broccoli or adding milk to your homemade horchata.

2. Down-to-Earth Charm

It’s clear Trader Joe’s has a unique atmosphere, especially for a grocery store. The wooden shelves gave a warm, rustic feel, and I took note of a subtle nautical theme woven throughout the decor. Crates and barrels held produce and supplies, and the workers communicated with each other by ringing bells at their checkout stations.

Everything was charmingly categorized: food groups were highlighted with playful signs and even the wine was organized by country, with hand-painted signage for France, and Italy (and one that read “Down Under” for Australia!). The entire experience felt like a refreshing escape from the modern designs and aesthetics most grocery chains have adopted.

3. Unique Products

While Trader Joe’s doesn’t quite have the selection to cover every item on my grocery list, it’s packed with unique products you won’t find at other stores. I was surprised to discover nearly every product was exclusively Trader Joe’s—no major labels here—and this only added to the shopping experience. The store feels like a perfect place to pop into every few weeks for items that stray from a typical grocery haul.

There were almost too many items to choose from, but I picked up some fan favorites, like their frozen Creamy Spinach and Artichoke Dip and the Coffee Bean Hold the Cone! Mini Ice Cream Cones. However, my favorite find was the Joe’s O’s Cereal. I didn’t buy it, so I can’t speak to its quality or taste, but just seeing it on the shelf put a smile on my face. Walking through the store felt like a journey of discovering exclusive treats and quirky finds, definitely making me want to return and explore more.

4. “Old-Fashioned” Check-Out Experience

It was such a refreshing change to have a face-to-face checkout instead of navigating a self-checkout station. The workers even bag the groceries for you, which is something I haven’t experienced since my early grocery shopping days as a kid. The grocery stores I usually visit only have a few checkout clerks at a time, so I enjoyed seeing fully staffed checkout lanes.

Chatting with the cashier as they packed my bags added a personal touch to my shopping experience—one that’s hard to come by. Plus, after peeking at their name tags, I discovered the workers are called “crew members,” which felt like a perfect fit for Trader Joe’s branding. I’d heard stories about how friendly the staff are, and now I’ve seen it for myself.

First-Visit Bonus Surprise

Since I walked into Trader Joe’s with no background knowledge of what to expect, nearly every part of my trip was something enjoyably unexpected. But the biggest surprise? The free reusable bag I received at checkout.

While the crew members packed my groceries into their paper bags, I mentioned it was my first time visiting one of the stores. The worker’s face lit up as she walked to a bag stand and presented me with a free Trader Joe’s reusable bag—a small gift for first-time visitors. A nearby sign informed me that they only cost 99 cents, but it was the gesture (and not the price tag) that made a lasting impression on me.