Earlier this month, Trader Joe’s celebrated the grand opening of a new store, located on the first floor of a Sherman Oak apartment building.
However, the chain is not a new chain for the neighborhood. Shop representatives said across the street was another trader Joe’s – a “legend” that has served clients since 1973.
The initial plan was to close the old location when the new branch was ready – both on Highway 101 on Riverside Avenue. But ultimately, the company believes that staying open might be “fun”, which is what new store manager Matt Judd said.
“We have a huge business in this city, so we decided to keep them both,” he said. “The city deserves it.”
Judd said the new store is 40% larger than the store across the street, with a large number of products and more aisles for customers to browse. It also offers parking in the underground garage – a huge attraction for customers driving in old parking lots.
Customers enter and exit adjacent shops around noon Friday.
The new store is 40% larger than the store across the street.
(Myung J. Chun/Los Angeles Times)
“It’s better,” said client Steve Emrick, who grabbed a shopping cart to go to the new store. “Other store may get crowded and parking isn’t that tight here.”
Another shopper, Jacob Ruiz, said he frequented older locations but was happy to visit the new ones for the first time. He said parking was easy and when he left, he swore that he “never go back” to another location.
But he also believes that the expansion of the region is not entirely necessary.
“Not here. They should risk going to other communities,” he said.
Both stores are still crowded – Judd said he hopes many of his clients will be loyal to Joe, a trader in 1973.
Olga Virov said she has been shopping in smaller stores for 20 years. She was impressed by the parking options offered by the new store, but because she usually walks to the grocery store, she didn’t see the need to switch.
“It’s more convenient. It’s comfortable and I’m easier to go, so I prefer to go to this one,” she said of the older place. “I’m not going to go to that unless I’m shopping in a mall.”
Melany Figueroa-Garcia stopped at the older Trader Joe’s while running in the grocery store. She said she plans to continue shopping there, calling it comfort. Plus, she said she thought the parking system at the new location was confusing. But she does like the choice of a bigger position.
“If this position didn’t have what I wanted, I would go to another position and get it,” she said.
In a statement to the Times, trader Joe said both stores are expected to remain open.
“Our goal is always to bring delicious products to as many people as possible,” the statement said. “The best way is to open more stores.”
