The ‘busiest Trader Joe’s in the world’ is temporarily shutting down – UK Times

The “busiest Trader Joe’s store in the world” is temporarily closing its doors for renovations, with no reopening date in sight.

Much to the dismay of New Yorkers, the store on Manhattan’s Upper West Side will shut down beginning May 17, a sign outside the 72nd Street and Broadway location said.

The store spans multiple levels, including two main floors plus an entrance level, and is known for extremely long lines that can wind through several sections, which some customers hope the renovation will improve.

“We promise not to be gone too long & will reopen as soon as we can,” read the sign posted outside the store, shared by West Side Rag. “This is not a goodbye but a see you later!”

A Trader Joe’s spokesperson told the outlet the closure is expected to last “several months,” though no exact reopening date has been set.

“We will be updating a lot, including refrigeration and vertical transportation,” the spokesperson said, adding that the changes are intended to “improve the in-store experience for our customers and crew.”

Some staff will remain with the company and reassigned to nearby stores during the closure.

New Yorkers had strong reactions to news on social media.

“This is a catastrophe. Please respect our privacy during this difficult time,” one person mourned.

“I hope this fixes the line situation lol,” another wrote.

“The one in Columbus Ave is going to be soo packed,” a third person complained.

Located two blocks from Central Park and equipped with two elevators and four escalators, the 72nd Street operates on a much larger scale than a typical Trader Joe’s, featuring roughly three times as many checkout lanes and staff members to handle the consistently high volume of shoppers, the company said in 2021.

“This may sound daunting, but to our Manhattan customers and Crew, it’s just another neighborhood store,” Trader Joe’s said at the time.

There are seven or eight Trader Joe’s locations in Manhattan, with the closest to the closing 72nd Street store being the one at 670 Columbus Ave, near the corner of West 93rd Street.

Other nearby options include the Upper East Side – Bridgemarket store on East 59th Street and the Chelsea location on 6th Avenue, but both are farther away compared with the Upper West Side store.

The Independent has contacted Trader Joe’s for further comment.