I Love You, Trader Joe’s

I thank you, too

Megan Minutillo

Apr 27, 2020·2 min read

Trader Joe’s, I have loved you for some time now.

I’m not sure when our relationship truly began, but it seems like you’ve always been there.
You’re a constant source of inspiration for my kitchen. You hold surprises for our bellies and our taste buds, and you encourage me to try new things, too.

I love how, because of you, I can feed my family in a way that is healthy and doesn’t break my bank account.

I love how you always have my favorite Kombucha stocked.

I love the little suggestion cards that you pair with your fruits, and your vegetables, and your meat, and your cheese, and, well, everything in your store.

I love your dark chocolate peanut butter cups. Let’s all take a moment of silence, and show our gratitude for those delectable little treats.

I love you, Trader Joe’s.

I love how your cashiers are always kind — they are always helpful, they are always patient, and they always seem to go the extra mile.

You still manage to be a light amidst the darkness of uncertainty, even amidst the chaos of the coronavirus pandemic.

You still manage to show up for your costumers — even though I’m sure you’re scared, too.

You’re still my favorite, even though I only see you once every two weeks.

So thank you, Trader Joe’s.

Thank you for coming outside to check on us standing in line, waiting to get into the store.

Thank you for taking the time to wipe down the shopping carts with hand sanitizer before us customers go about our shopping adventure.

Thank you for still managing to stock your shelves with fruit, and vegetables, and cheese, and meat, and all of those little things that so many of us look forward to scooping up when we come through your doors.

Thank you for keeping those dark chocolate peanut butter cups in circulation — they’re such a comfort during these wild times.

Thank you for all of that.

But most of all, thank you for continuing to be kind.

Thank you for having patience with the cranky human that wanted to know if they’d be able to get the things that they usually purchase.

Thank you for taking the time to show senior citizens where the eggs are, and where to find their pasta, and always giving them the option to move to the front of the line.

Thank you for restocking toilet paper — and thank you for writing that sign, telling customers that they cannot take more than two packages.

Thank you for helping us bag our groceries.

Thank you for smiling behind your masks — for even though we cannot see it, those smiles reach your eyes, and the warmth of humanity is something that feeds us, too.