The Trader Joe's on Pico in SM is too crowded (Santa Ana: sale, to live in)

[Dunbar42]

Hmm, I couldn't seem to find the store on Olympic so I'll guess I'll have to look harder. For some reason the Olympic store doesn't show up on Google Maps on my Android phone either.

The parking situation at the on one on Pico is beyond ridiculous. I've tried going at lunch, or at 8pm mid-week and it's always busy. I went there on New Year's Eve and there was a line of cars waiting on the street just to get into the parking lot so I went home. I even asked the cashier when the best time to come to avoid the crowds and he really didn't have a good answer. I have three Whole Foods within a mile of me but I can't afford to shop there

[Spikett]

The cross street for the one on Olympic with the rooftop parking is Barrington.

[disgruntled la native]

There are enough TJ's in LA where you aren't confined to one. As someone said the one at Olympic and Barrington is easier to deal with. There is also one by Palms and Sepulveda (approximately)

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by yamota

this is not 25 years ago, there's way more people now than there used to be, and it's only gonna get worse.

Nah. 25 years ago, Trader Joe's was still packed! (You just weren't around then, right? )

[thepinksquid]

If you're willing to make the drive, the TJ's in Pt. Loma in San Diego is wonderfully un-crowded most of the time.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by genjy

The San Dimas TJ I go to isn't packed unless it's peak hour in the afternoon--lThe stores in Pasadena are madhouses--

Every time I go to the one in San Dimas, it's crowded, unless you go in just as it opens. The one on Lake is a little more spacious; have been in it only once. I thought that parking lot was larger as well?

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

Nah. 25 years ago, Trader Joe's was still packed!

What he/she/it said. I date back to shopping at Prado Market (the pre-TJ name) in Santa Ana, and there was always a crowd. What was different from today was the douchebag percentage.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Many of them are claustrophobic, have horrible parking, and attract the types of self-centered, "I'm-the-only-person-in-the-world" aisle-blocking idiots who hold up other shoppers while they minutely inspect 35 bottles of ****ty wine as if the meaning of life will be revealed on the labels.

Just be glad you have them: all we have in Fresh Market and the prices are twice as high, for most things, than T Joes'...I would jump up and down for a whole day if we would get T Joes..I am hoping, now that our county is wet,they may come here. I can assure you, the area would support them. We have so many stray Ca as well as people from other states living here.

[DinsdalePirahna]

Sorry, but I love TJs.
Friendly employees. Most of the people are friendly (lots of the neighbors), few douchebags, NO REWARDS CARDS, short lines.

I'm walking distance to my local TJs. Prices are good and the wine selection is pretty decent for daily table wines. Although I usually walk, parking is more than adequate at the local TJs (as well all the other local stores in HB and Belmont Shore.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by nmnita

Just be glad you have them:

Nita, I haven't been to a TJ in 10 years. I haunt the Latino markets, the places where Spanish is required.