As a San Gabriel Valley native, Trader Joe’s has literally been my neighborhood grocery store since youth and continues to be my grocery store of choice as an adult. Considering how much time and money I spend at Trader Joe’s each month, I figured it apropos to finally dedicate a section of my blog to this hallowed place.
THE VERY START
My parents immigrated to Pasadena, California separate of each other in the 1970s. They were both in their early twenties, quickly adapted to life in the States, and had fallen in love with the City of Roses and eventually each other in no time at all. My father was living in a quaint, Craftsman-style home with his aunt & uncle in North Pasadena, and my mother was living in an apartment on Marengo within walking distance of the original Trader Joe’s when they first met. Suffice it to say, TJs was literally their go-to neighborhood grocer and a favorite destination for wine, cheese, and nuts.
MY YOUTH
As a child, my family frequented Trader Joe’s at least once a week if not more. I attended school in the neighborhood of Eagle Rock so that particular store was a regular midweek stop. On the weekends, we always went to the South Pasadena location since it was 1 mile closer to our family home. Other than TJs, my family also went to Vons, Price Club (now Costco), Bristol Farms, and mom & pop – produce markets for majority of our groceries. Super King was later added to the mix in my teenage years. Despite shopping at a few other retailers from time-to-time, Trader Joe’s always ruled supreme especially since it was the only place my parents ever purchased purchased milk and eggs from. See below for a list of some of my favorite products from my days as a kid.
Childhood Favorites
- Hansen’s Soda
- Frozen Enchiladas
- Mushroom Turnovers
- Chicken Gyoza (Still around; still a regular purchase.)
- Chicken & Cheese Tamales (Still around; still a regular purchase.)
- Mini Toast Crackers (They used to be much smaller than the ones they currently sell.)
- Goat Cheese (Still around; still a regular purchase.)
- Brie (Still around; still a regular purchase.)
- Hard Fruit Candies Packaged in Small Tins
- Tofutti Cuties Ice Cream Sandwiches
- Italian Pastry Cookies
- Cat Cookies (I believe these are still around.)
- Cigar Cookies (It was a different brand than what they carry today.)
- Cheesecake (It came in a white box and was much larger than the current NY style, blue box cheesecake they currently sell. We took this to many family parties along with a plastic box of jelly candies for all of my cousins.)
EARLY TWENTIES
I attended Loyola Marymount University on the westside of LA – so the Westchester Trader Joe’s became my new go-to grocer during my 4-years of college. Unlike my hometown, Trader Joe’s locations about 25 miles east – this Trader Joe’s was located in a giant plaza with plenty of parking! It was a different but welcomed change.
During Freshman & Sophomore Year while I was living on campus – the main TJ purchases were…
- Snacks Galore
- Gummy Vitamins
Junior & Senior Year while I was living off campus – the grocery list grew & was mainly comprised of…
- Frozen Everything
- Bread
- Cheese
- Crackers
- Eggs
- Yogurt
- Cream Cheese
- Deli Turkey & Salami
- Fresh Fruit
- Baby Carrots
- Plenty of Two Buck Chuck
- And of course – Snacks Galore
After graduation, I moved back to Los Angeles’ Eastside and incorporated the following groceries to the list above.
- Coffee
- Wine
- Beer
- Half & Half
- Fresh Vegetables
- Raw Protein
And just to note, the Burbank Trader Joe’s became my primary store between the ages of 24-29.
AND NOW IN MY THIRTIES
Other than a few Costco buys, the occasional Whole Foods stop, and produce purchases from my local Farmer’s Market during the summer – majority of my groceries are bought at Trader Joe’s.
If time is not of the essence, I will occasionally wander into the original, Arroyo Parkway location maybe twice a year. However, the South Pasadena Trader Joe’s continues to be my regular, stomping ground. And when nearby, I also frequent the Lake Avenue Pasadena, Eagle Rock, La Cañada, and Montrose stores from time to time. Outside of my neighborhood – the Santa Monica store on Pico will always be a favorite as well as the Santa Rosa location in Sonoma County and Petaluma location in Marin County.
This once neighborhood grocer has truly spread its wings throughout the country and is now even a recognized brand around the globe. Some may call Trader Joe’s trendy, others may call it overpriced, but I just call it my home away from home.
I truly look forward to writing future blog posts dedicated to Trader Joe’s products & my experience as a loyal customer of this Southern California staple.
Cheers!
HOMEMADE IN LA 