Now, the internet is going gaga over reusable grocery bags—specifically, Trader Joe’s tote bags. And one man is going viral for encountering this premium in the wild.
‘People have been paying egregious amounts of money’
In a video first posted on Feb. 13 that has since accumulated almost half a million views, TikToker Tremaine (@tremaineontv) shares an experience he had with a Trader Joe’s fan abroad.
“So I’m in Denmark, I’m in Copenhagen,” Tremaine begins in his video. “And I saw this girl earlier with a Trader Joe’s bag … the ones that they have been selling out of. So of course, me, I stopped her.”
Tremaine says he communicated with the girl and learned she purchased the bag online.
“I was like, ‘Wait, how much did you pay for it?”” Tremaine recounts. “Because I know people have been paying egregious amounts of money for the Trader Joe’s bag.”
Tremaine then encourages his viewers to guess how much the girl paid for it. Surely it can’t be that much for a bad that’s worth under 10 bucks, right? Wrong.
“The girl paid $3,000 for the Trader Joe’s bag,” Tremaine reveals. “I was like, ‘No. You talking about 3,000 dollars or … a 3,000 Danish chrome, whatever it’s called? She’s like, ‘No. $3,000.’”
He continues, “Somebody in the United States is going to the Trader Joe’s, buying all the bags, and we sell them to people in different parts of the world that want the bag. This lady just paid $3,000 for a little treasure.”
People can’t believe their ears
Tremaine, and countless viewers in his comments section, expressed utter disbelief that anyone would pay that much for any bag, much less a grocery store bag.
“I’m one of those people that when people want something so bad, even if I don’t really want it, I just gotta have it because other people want it,” Tremaine admits at the end of his video. “I’m like, I’m really a Trader Joe’s fanatic. I love Trader Joe’s, but what, I spend $3,000 on the bag? Heck, no. That don’t make sense to me.”
Commenters gathered to echo his sentiments, with most of them crying out, “For a grocery bag?!”
“It would of been cheaper for her to fly to America and get the bag herself,” one commenter observed.
“Looks like I found my new side hustle,” joked another.
One viewer even claimed to have cashed in on the whole scheme.
“I go to London & Paris a few times a year and always take a few TJ’s bags to give away,” they wrote. “I got an upgrade to a massive suite at my hotel one time.”
Trader Joe’s sells quite a few tote bags. Only one, however, is going mega-viral and being resold for the exorbitant prices Tremaine discussed in his video. If people are burning thousands of dollars to snag one, Trader Joe’s probably sells it at a premium, right?
Only if you’re in Trader Joe’s country, however. Non-Americans clearly don’t have quite the same access, and they’re paying for it. The virality of this tote bag has people forking over the big bucks not only in Denmark, but also in places like the UK and Japan.
Believe it or not, some resellers are even making millions off these bags. Literally. And while some people are clearly excited by the regional “exclusivity” of this product, Trader Joe’s itself reportedly isn’t thrilled by this hype-induced craze.
“Trader Joe’s, for its part, has tried to distance itself from the frenzy,” Delish reports. “Nakia Rohde, the company’s public relations manager, said they ‘neither condones nor supports the reselling of [its] products’ when asked about the topic and ‘does all [it] can to stop the practice.’”
The Mary Sue has reached out to Trader Joe’s via email and Tremaine via TikTok comment and DM.
FILE – People stand in line waiting to enter Trader Joe’s to buy groceries in Pembroke Pines, Fla., on March 24, 2020. More than 61,000 pounds of steamed chicken soup dumplings sold at Trader Joe’s are being recalled for possibly containing hard plastic, U.S. regulators announced Saturday, March 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Portland, Oregon, company is recalling nearly 3.4 million pounds of frozen chicken fried rice products sold at Trader Joe’s stores and in Canada.
The products may contain pieces of glass. Ajinomoto Foods North America Inc. pulled Trader Joe’s Chicken Fried Rice.
Another recalled product, Ajinomoto Yakitori Chicken with Japanese-Style Rice, was sold in Canada.
The problem was detected after four consumers complained of finding glass.
Rising construction costs, financing pressure and approvals slowed some development activity.
While this year saw interest rates level off slightly from the nearly 7 percent average from the previous year, 2025 still presented a slew of obstacles for Long Island’s real estate and development industry.
Tariffs on building materials and other products, hiring issues and the ever-present opposition to development projects were challenges to overcome this year. In addition, continued low inventory and soaring home prices plagued the residential market, cutting into sales activity and highlighting the need for more housing.
Nevertheless, the region saw progress on some major development projects and some big deals in commercial real estate and the retail sector, with many new businesses planning or opening their first Long Island locations.
As always, LIBN covered it all, reporting on some of the biggest business stories of the year.
The new Wegmans store in Lake Grove. / Courtesy of Wegmans
After eyeing Long Island for more than a decade, Wegmans finally opened its first supermarket here. Casanova, the chain’s animatronic rooster, began welcoming customers in February to the freshly minted 101,000-square-foot store at 3270 Middle Country in Lake Grove.
Though the new Lake Grove store is the chain’s first on Long Island, it won’t be its last. Brokers say Wegmans is planning to eventually have three or four locations here; the company is actively pursuing sites and properties that can accommodate its 100,000-square-foot supermarkets.
After opening those New York City stores, Wegmans finally secured a Long Island foothold in 2023 when it closed on its purchase of the 8.5-acre Lake Grove development site. The grocery chain paid Prestige Properties & Development, owner of DSW Plaza, $15.3 million for the property.
Also in the supermarket space, LIBN was first to report that national grocery chain Trader Joe’s planned to develop a sprawling warehouse and distribution complex at the 66-acre former CA site in Islandia, which it purchased in August for $118.5 million.
The Monrovia, Calif.-based supermarket chain’s Islandia distribution complex will total 921,000 square feet, which will be one of the largest single-user industrial properties on Long Island. And based on the staffing at the company’s other larger distribution centers, the Islandia hub could create as many as 800 jobs. The project will also open the door for the chain to expand its area retail footprint and add to its seven stores already on Long Island.
In other retail news, LIBN broke the story that Rite Aid had missed rent payments in April, foretelling the chain closing all of its Long Island locations. The eventual Rite Aid closings announcement in May came as little surprise to Long Island landlords, as the struggling chain has closed several stores over the last few years and just 13 remained here.
After emerging from bankruptcy in Sept. 2024, the formerly publicly traded corporation went private while cutting $2 billion in debt and adding $2.5 billion in exit financing. Rite Aid, which had more than 4,000 stores nationwide 30 years ago, has also slimmed its footprint and was down to about 1,400 stores as of Q3 2024, according to its website.
And while Rite Aid is no longer, several new chains either opened or planned for their first Long Island locations this year. Prolific franchise firm Doherty Enterprises, which owns and operates Applebee’s and Panera Bread among others, will soon be opening the Island’s first Jinya Ramen Bar in Lake Grove with another to follow in Massapequa Park. Florida-based Mexican restaurant chain Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar opened a 5,500-square-foot restaurant at Walt Whitman Shops this month, its first on Long Island.
Dave’s Hot Chicken, the chain’s first here, opened a 2,555-square-foot eatery in the Parkway Plaza shopping center at 207 Glen Cove Road in Carle Place. The Froccaros, Long Island’s first family of franchisees, plan on eventually opening 14 Dave’s Hot Chicken locations—seven on Long Island and seven in Queens.
LIBN was first to report that Joe & The Juice, a global chain of juice bar cafés,
has leased locations in Woodbury and Manhasset, where it will debut the concept here. The Denmark-based chain, which primarily offers coffee, juice, shakes and sandwiches, is in the midst of an aggressive expansion. The first Long Island location will be the 2,769-square-foot store in Woodbury Town Plaza at 8025 Jericho Turnpike in Woodbury, formerly the long-time home of Gabby’s Bagels and the company will also open a 2,249-square-foot eatery in the new Manhasset Row at 1579 Northern Blvd. in Manhasset. Both will open next year.
Pickleball continued its march to open clubs and facilities across the area. The first Long Island location for fast-growing pickleball chain The Picklr opened this month. The 33,900-square-foot club opened at 231 Centereach Mall in Centereach, a space formerly occupied by a Big Lots store. It features 11 courts with sound-reducing matrix systems and performance lighting, as well as a pro shop, café, lounge and locker rooms. Pickleball Heaven opened a 55,700-square-foot pickleball complex at 645 National Blvd. in Medford, featuring 18 courts, a 2,500-square-foot pro shop and player lockers and a 60-foot bar with a full kitchen.
On the development side, some major projects moved forward in 2025. LIBN was first to report on a $160 million luxury apartment project primed to transform a rundown section of Patchogue‘s downtown. Farmingdale-based Nord Development Group, led by Joseph Rossi and Peter Ferrandino, recently began construction on a two-building, 455,000-square-foot residential rental complex that will bring 262 apartments to a 4.08-acre site on West Main Street.
The development called Carriage House will create two five-story buildings bisected by the northern end of the Patchogue River. The plan includes a reclamation of the waterway and a new riverwalk and park area spanning 32,570 square feet. The buildings also provide on-site parking for 410 cars on the ground level and a slew of amenities.
MTA’s rendering of the proposed $100M TOD at the Westbury LIRR station. / Courtesy of MTA
LIBN also exclusively reported on a new $97 million transit-oriented residential development in Westbury from Manhattan-based Alpine Residential. The project will bring 187 apartments to a 1.91-acre site across from the Westbury LIRR station. LIBN was also first to report on Manhattan-based Gotham Organization’s proposed $100 million mixed-use development on the former MTA parking lot at the Westbury LIRR station.
The Westbury project will be the MTA’s first transit-oriented development on Long Island as part of its ongoing TOD campaign aimed at leveraging private investment to create housing opportunities on underutilized property at commuter train stations.
Gotham plans to build a five-story, mixed-use building on 1.92 acres of an MTA-owned surface parking lot on Railroad Avenue. The plan would bring 157 apartments over 15,000 square feet of ground-level retail space to the now closed parking lot just south of the Westbury LIRR station, according to MTA documents.
Other new developments that advanced this year included an $82 million project from Heatherwood Luxury Rentals called Heritage on Main, which will bring 165 apartments over 3,500 square feet of retail space to a 1.42-acre vacant site once occupied by a Sears store at 203-213 East Main St. The new five-story, 238,342-square-foot building will bring a mix of 52 studios, 80 one-bedroom and 33 two-bedroom market-rate apartments. Amenities at Heritage on Main will include a clubroom, fitness center, resident lounges and rooftop terrace with views of the Peconic River and beyond.
Matinecock Court, an affordable limited-equity cooperative, is ready to welcome its first residents. / Photo by David Winzelberg
Just before Thanksgiving, families began moving into the long-awaited Matinecock Court affordable development in East Northport. After more than 46 years in the making, the $97-million development, a partnership between D&F and Greenlawn-based Housing Help, the complex on 14.5 acres on the northwest corner of Elwood Road and Pulaski Road brings 146 residences in 17 two-story residential buildings consisting of 18 one-bedroom units, 89 two-bedroom units, 38 three-bedroom units and a two-bedroom unit for the superintendent. Eight of the units are reserved for individuals with developmental disabilities and five are set aside for veterans. The project includes a 2,500-square-foot community building with a fitness center, administrative offices and meeting areas for residents. It also has its own sewage treatment plant.
Finally, in another LIBN exclusive, Taconic Capital closed on its $14 million purchase of a 13.3-acre development site next to Oheka Castle in Huntington, aimed at reviving a plan to develop a condominium project. The property, part of the Cold Spring Country Club, has been enmeshed with a controversial development plan for the last 17 years.
Sources say Taconic is waiting to take over the castle property before it moves forward with a plan to build condos, possibly as many as 190. Taconic was granted a foreclosure judgment and was about to take over the property at a foreclosure sale scheduled for last August, when Gary Melius’ Oheka entity Kahn Property Owner filed for Chapter 11 on July 31 in a last-ditch effort to stop the foreclosure sale. The bankruptcy action automatically stayed the foreclosure proceedings, which are currently stalled.
Land to support Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel expansion, including parking
Trader Joe’s developing major warehouse project on adjacent former CA site
Jake’s 58 expansion to add gaming space, food court, parking garage and jobs
An 8.5-acre parcel of land that was donated to the Village of Islandia and suggested as a site for veterans housing has been sold to Suffolk Regional Off-Track Betting for its ongoing expansion of Jake’s 58 Casino Hotel.
Suffolk OTB paid $12.5 million for the parcel that adjoins the existing Jake’s Islandia property. The land had been donated to the village a couple of years ago by the owners of the former CA Technologies property next door. The donated land was earmarked by the village as a potential development site for veterans’ housing, according to real estate sources, but the village sold it to Suffolk OTB instead.
About half of the land will be used as parking for Jake’s and use for the rest of the property is yet to be determined, according to Suffolk OTB CEO Phil Boyle.
Islandia Property Owner LLC, the ownership group that acquired the 800,000-square-foot former CA headquarters on 66 acres in Oct. 2021, sold the property to the Monrovia, Calif.-based grocery chain Trader Joe’s for $118.5 million in August, as first reported by LIBN. Trader Joe’s is already constructing a three-building, 921,000-square-foot project on the site that will include a 756,032-square-foot warehouse and distribution building.
The Islandia site’s former ownership group, Axonic Capital, Taconic Capital Advisors, Onyx Equities and Jericho-based Oxford and Simpson, acquired the sprawling CA campus after paying $24.1 million for the $165.6 million commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) note on the property and took ownership after negotiating with the borrower on a mutually agreed upon “friendly” foreclosure, as LIBN previously reported. The group had planned on developing an eight-building industrial facility before selling the Islandia property to Trader Joe’s.
Rendering of the new Center Bar at Jake’s 58. / Courtesy of bld Architecture
The $210 million expansion of Jake’s Casino Hotel includes a new 110,500-square-foot building that will house 1,000 additional video slot machines and a 200-seat food court. The project also features a new three-and-a-half level, 168,000-square-foot parking garage that will accommodate about 500 vehicles, a 17,500-square-foot VIP lounge and entertainment area, a 3,500-square-foot space for weddings, parties and corporate events, a “high-end” restaurant, and renovations to the existing casino, third floor offices and the hotel’s 210 guest rooms.
The expansion project, headed by Ronkonkoma-based Aurora Construction and designed by Patchogue-based bld Architecture, is creating 800 construction jobs and more than 200 additional permanent jobs, eventually bringing the total staff at Jake’s to nearly 700 employees.
The Village of Islandia, which already receives $2.25 million a year from Jake’s, will begin getting $4.25 million annually once the additional slot machines go live next year.
Trader Joe’s stores have a reputation for getting crowded at the best of times, but if you’re planning to make a stop in the next few days, beware: the brand just dropped a Halloween version of its mini tote bags, and they already went viral twice for creating in-store traffic jams.
The bags, which come in combinations of black, orange, purple, and green, cost just $2.99 each and dropped in stores on October 8. They’re a tiny version of Trader Joe’s classic reusable tote bags, measuring just 13 x 11 x 6 inches—about the size of an iPad. This is the third time that Trader Joe’s has released a new version of the bags, which have proven to be a desirable fan favorite (to put it mildly).
“It’s 6:49 a.m. and I’m on my way to Trader Joes,” one TikToker shared. “If I don’t get these Halloween tote bags, I’m gonna have a fit.”
Why is everyone so obsessed with the Trader Joe’s mini tote?
It’s possible that the mini tote craze is related to the increasing size of the reusable bag market, which is expanding in part due to plastic bag bans (eight states ban single-use plastic bags, and cities including New York and Washington, D.C. charge fees for their use). But the more likely reason for the trend is simpler: within our current stage of consumer capitalism, niche accessories are having a moment.
In August,Fast Company wrote about the rise of the “meta-accessory,” a kind of accessory mainly designed to compliment another accessory. That includes items like a lipgloss phone case; a Stanley water bottle backpack; an $1,000 bag charm; or a Labubu for a Labubu. All of these pieces serve minimal utilitarian purposes, and seem mainly geared toward convincing consumers that they need to make yet another little purchase.
At Trader Joe’s, the mini tote is like a tote bag for your regular tote bag—and, clearly, shoppers can’t get enough.
By Grace Snelling
This article originally appeared in Inc.’s sister publication, Fast Company.
Fast Company is the world’s leading business media brand, with an editorial focus on innovation in technology, leadership, world changing ideas, creativity, and design. Written for and about the most progressive business leaders, Fast Company inspires readers to think expansively, lead with purpose, embrace change, and shape the future of business.
Captains and Crew Members are coming to John Carroll.
Cuyahoga County is slated to get its fourth Trader Joe’s, recent plans and building permits show, this time in the middle of University Heights.
The coveted grocer is planned to be the largest retail tenant at the in-progress Gateway North development, a mid-rise going up near Fairmount Circle in between Warrensville Center and Milford roads.
Plans for the development show 96 apartment units, designed for juniors and seniors at John Carroll’s campus across the street. (And a parking lot with 487 spaces.) They also hint at a “specialty grocer” occupying a massive ground-floor commercial space on the western side of the building.
University Heights Mayor Michael Brennan confirmed the plans in a call with Scene on Monday, adding that the city’s been in talks with Trader Joe’s since at least 2021 to bring them to the Gateway North space.
“It’s basically been the worse kept secret in town,” Brennan said, adding: “People talk about food deserts—University Heights will be a food oasis.”
The store is slated to open in the fall of 2026, according to plans, but both John Carroll and Trader Joe’s skated around confirmation in comments to Scene.
“At this time, we can’t confirm the specialty grocer’s name,” a spokesperson for John Carroll told Scene, “but we hope to share more details about our exciting Gateway North project soon.”
A Trader Joe’s spokesperson said, “We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country, including areas around Cleveland, as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year.”
Founded in Pasadena, California, in the 1960s, Trader Joe’s is known for its unique food at low prices, along with its vibrant aesthetic and chill atmosphere.
There are three TJ’s already in the Greater Cleveland area: Westlake, Woodmere and Mentor.
If you’ve been wishing for a Trader Joe’s to open near you, your odds just got better. The quirky grocery chain, famous for its fun snacks, budget-friendly wine and friendly employees in Hawaiian shirts, just revealed seven new “Coming Soon” stores on its website.
The new locations are set for:
-Columbia, South Carolina
-Costa Mesa, California
-Hamden, Connecticut
-Melbourne, Florida
-Williamsville, New York
-Kingwood, Texas
-Lacey, Washington
Trader Joe’s Expansion Plans
While Trader Joe’s hasn’t shared official opening dates yet, these additions are part of a much bigger expansion strategy. In 2025, the chain plans to open 30 new stores across 18 states and Washington, D.C. So far, more than 20 of those locations are already up and running and these seven are the latest to join the “coming soon” list.
As of now, Trader Joe’s has over 600 stores nationwide, with California holding the crown at more than 200 locations. Other states have a handful and some, like West Virginia, South Dakota, and Mississippi, still don’t have one at all. For fans in those states, the wait continues.
For everyone else, the new stores could mean much shorter road trips for those frozen ice cream sandwiches or cult-favorite snacks like the Chili Lime Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips.
The New Locations
Here’s a quick breakdown of the seven new spots:
Columbia, SC: This is not Columbia’s first Trader Joe’s, but it’s a big deal. This second location will sit on busy Harbison Boulevard, a prime retail corridor.
Costa Mesa, CA: California is already loaded with Trader Joe’s, but hey, one more never hurts.
Hamden, CT; Melbourne, FL; Williamsville, NY; Kingwood, TX; and Lacey, WA: These stores expand access in states that already have Trader Joe’s but each will give locals a brand-new, closer option.
Part of Trader Joe’s magic is its devoted following. Fans love the unique store-brand products, affordable prices and seasonal items that spark long lines (pumpkin season, anyone?). Each new location tends to create major buzz in the community, often with crowds lining up on opening day.
The exact grand opening dates aren’t yet known but for now, shoppers in these seven cities can start getting excited.
So, is Trader Joe’s finally opening near you? If not yet, don’t give up hope. With the chain expanding at record pace, your city might be next on the list.
New York (CNN) — It’s not just you. Everything is shrinking.
This week, Trader Joe’s restocked the $2.99 mini tote bags that were resold for as much as $500 on eBay earlier this year. Stores prominently display travel-sized haircare, skincare and makeup products. TikToks of micro beauty bags being stuffed with micro products are racking up millions of views. Even iced tea brand Snapple has launched an 8-ounce bottle, advertised to fit in a mini bag.
For many people, mini-products may not seem to make much sense. But despite the higher cost per ounce to consumers, increased packaging and the potential to stoke overconsumption, brands are betting shrunk-down goods will scratch customers’ itch for nostalgia and provide an affordable entry point into luxury.
Fashion Institute of Technologybusiness management professor Shawn Carter said that, since Covid, stores are giving better shelf real estate to their mini products, a bid to battle high prices and to lure in the store’s youngest customers, Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
Microfashion items began in the 1960s, Carter said. With the introduction of the mini skirt came the mini clutch bag and then the mini top handle bag.
Like many eras in fashion, minis havemade a comeback. “That trend accelerated in 2022, it went on steroids,” Carter said. But “it’s no longer a trend. This is here to stay.”
Take it from Trader Joe’s. Matt Sloan, VP of marketing and host of the chain’s “Inside Trader Joe’s” podcast, said in a March episode the company had “no inkling” the mini tote bags would become such a viral craze.
“We had actually hundreds of thousands of bags come in and go out within a week,” Sloan said.
Finding a niche
Even if you aren’t buying small, you can’t escape the trend on social media.
Jo Barker’s TikTok account The Little Bean has amassed 3.2 million likes on TikTok for her niche of stuffing as many mini products as she can into luxury microbags.
In one of her most popular videos, she stuffs a mini Coach Tabby bag ($195 online) with a mini Charlotte Tilbury lipstick, mini Chanel mascara, mini Tarte Shape Tape concealer, mini Chanel compact powder and a mini Versace perfume — along with other essentials. Other bags are from the likes of Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton.
Barker started her account in 2021 as a creative outlet and to meet other people in the luxury community. Covid made her realize she didn’t have to carry around as much as she thought she did, so she jumped on the mini bag trend.
“Anytime I’m going out, I usually have a smaller bag with me. I’m not carrying large totes or large bags, because it just doesn’t match my lifestyle,” Barker said.
There are a variety of ways to go mini, Barker said. Barker also makes her own mini make-up byputting portions of her full-sized items into tiny bottles.
Sephora and Ulta also offer mini samples with certain purchases, in exchange for reward points or on birthdays. It ends up being a great incentive for customers to spend at these stores, Barker said, because some of the mini items are only available as perks to frequent shoppers.
Why are people so into minis?
Even people who don’t use mini products are locked into Barker’s content. Watching someone squeeze as many minuscule bottles into a bag is the kind of relaxing, almost mindless, content that fills TikTok feeds. On TikTok, Barker has more than 100,000 followers and on Instagram, 400,000 follow her every post.
“I mean, I think there’s just a cuteness factor to it, right?” Barker said.
Think about the Polly Pockets you might have played with as a child, or the kid-sized lunches packed for school. Brands are evoking those memories by tapping into nostalgia.
“Humans have always loved, you know, tiny, tiny objects, and this is just a functional iteration of that,” Anna Keller, a principal analyst at Minter, said.
Some customers also prefer minis because it’s easier to finish the entire product.
And regardless of what is a typically higher cost per ounce, mini-sized items cost less than their full-sized counterparts.
Mini-sized beauty and fashion items can often be an entry point into luxury without having to resort to dupes, or cheaper duplicates of more expensive brands, Keller said.
“They’re looking for ways to tap into the real luxury product however they can,” Keller said.
Producing minis can be expensive for smaller brands because of extra operational costs and having to work logistics with manufacturers — but the payoff can be worth it for companies since consumers can experiment with their products, especially as minis are already trending.
“It can then be a very valuable marketing tool,” Keller said.
Hopping on any social media fashion and beauty trend bears the risk of increasing plastic waste – there’s more packaging and manufacturing involved in owning a mini bottle on top of full-sized versions.
Companies need to start moving toward reusable, refillable products, Melissa Valliant, communications director at environmental group Beyond Plastic said, so the proliferation of “smaller bottles and smaller products instead of larger or reusable products, it just means more plastic production.”
The Association of Plastic Recyclers recommended purchasing full-size products and using reusable containers when mini products are needed during traveling. That’s because packages smaller than 2 inches aren’t able to be recycled in the US system.
And value is subjective to the biggest fans of the trend.
“If I bought a larger version — okay, I’m getting more fabric for the price, but I’m never going to use that large bag because it doesn’t fit my lifestyle,” Barker said. “If you buy something that might cost more, but you’ll use more often, that’s worth the investment.”
I’ve already waxed poetic about these dogs, but I’m more than happy to say it again: A&H hot dogs are plump, snappy, and beautifully smoky, which adds an extra layer of flavor. Growing up keeping kosher, my options were very limited. (I couldn’t, say, sample my way through 10 different brands.)
In the last 20 years, wine and wine dinners have increased in popularity….does marijuana have a place at the table?
Wine has always been a perfect partner with good food. But in the early 2000, a revolution happened in the wine world. Two Buck Chuck appeared at Trader Joes and all the sudden, wine drinks soared. Buy putting out a $2 wine, it began democratizing wine consumption demographic. It opened the market to consumers who previously avoided wine due to lack of understanding and the cost. Wine became an easy staple to pair with carefully crafted dinners or just burgers and leftovers. But can cannabis pair well with a wine dinner?
Roughly 5 years after the premier of Two Buck Chuck wine, consumers had become accustomed to adding wine into the menu and wine dinners became a thing. Restaurants, private diners and fundraisers quickly grabbed on the trend. Now, they are very common.
About 5 years after the wine dinner craze took off, marijuana began becoming legalized. And while there are cannabis dinners, they are no where near as popular and definitely not as mainstream. So can marijuana hit a high with the grapes?
Of course there is a spot at the table for marijuana and for good reason. Cannabis is known to improve taste responsiveness and enhance the sensory appeal of foods. Savoring the matched flavors of the event is the key, and the plant might help. But moderation of wine and weed is the key. The traditional dinner involves the delicate pairing of wine with each course throughout the party. You can have from 3-4 courses (appetizers, salad, main, dessert) to many more courses. To reap the benefits, you will want to try some of the wine, but a low dose of marijuana can relax you and bring out the flavors and sensations of the evening.
The key factor is too not overly indulged in marijuana or wine. Combining alcohol and marijuana edibles results in a stronger effect because alcohol dilates the blood vessels in the digestive tract, allowing THC to be absorbed more quickly. This can affect how strong and long-lasting one’s high is, especially when using edibles. An occasional puff of a vape could get you to the right spot, stay focused and relax into the culinary delights.
Be prepared, don’t drive, and moderation are all the keys for a good evening.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
My Saturday mornings always consist of the same routine: Sleep in, pour myself a cup of French press, and make pancakes. Pancakes on a Saturday morning was a tradition in my house growing up, and I honestly have a hard time picturing my weekends starting any other way. However, while it is delightful to make pancakes from scratch, I do find myself reaching for those easy-to-make pancake or waffle mixes you see in stores, especially if they come in different fun flavors. So you can only imagine my excitement when I found out that Trader Joe’s is now selling a Strawberries & Crème Pancake & Waffle Mix to kick off summer at just $3.99 a box.
This Strawberries & Crème Pancake & Waffle Mix makes it easy to whip up a tasty breakfast to serve with all of your freshly picked strawberries this summer. The mix is made with sweetened dried strawberries and white chocolate chips to give it that mix of tangy, creamy flavor. Buttermilk powder is added to make those pancakes and waffles extra fluffy. Vegetable juices are used to give this mix that aesthetically pleasing hint of pink. To whip up this breakfast, all shoppers have to do is add milk, eggs, and oil to this mix, then flip or fry away. Each box will make up to 7 servings, or 14 pancakes with a 4-inch diameter.
While these pancakes would already be tasty with the classic toppings of butter and maple syrup, you can serve a number of other delectable dishes with this mix. Keep it on theme with billowing homemade whipped cream and either fresh or canned strawberries. Trader Joe’s says a waffle sandwich with fried chicken is also particularly delicious with this mix.
Shoppers are already looking forward to stocking their pantries with this new delectable breakfast item. “NEED that waffle mix,” writes one shopper on @traderjoesobsessed’s latest Instagram post. “Oh my gosh yum!” writes another.
Be sure to stock up, though; Trader Joe’s is only offering this Strawberries & Crème Pancake & Waffle Mix for a limited time.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
When it comes to dessert, Trader Joe’s always knows how to deliver. Just look at the Chocolate Lava Cakes, Double Chocolate Croissants, and Mini Ice Cream Hold the Cones — the sweet treats at Trader Joe’s do not miss. So, of course, I squealed with joy when I learned about the chain’s latest dessert innovation: a Japanese Soufflé Cheesecake!
Now sold in the freezer section at TJ’s, you can buy a two-pack of Japanese Soufflé Cheesecakes. These crustless cheesecakes are “airy and moist,” making them the perfect light dessert when you want something sweet but not too heavy. They’re made with a mixture of sweet condensed milk and cream cheese, combining to create a light yet rich and creamy texture.
Preparation only requires one step: Thaw the cheesecakes for three hours in the refrigerator. That’s it! Pull them out of the fridge, and voilà! Dessert is served. You can take them to the next level by topping them with homemade blueberry compote or even a salted honey sauce.
You can buy this two-pack of Japanese Soufflé Cheesecakes for $3.29 in the freezer section, but move fast! Trader Joe’s is only offering this dessert for a limited time. If you’re anything like me and love to stock up on your favorite foods before they sell out, I have a feeling you’ll want to make some freezer space to pull out these cheesecakes on those days when you’re craving a little something sweet.
Trader Joe’s shoppers are already stocking up on this sweet treat for later and raving about how good it is over on a @traderjoesobessed Instagram post. “Looks amazing! Can’t wait,” writes one shopper. “OMG I’M RUNNING TO GET THEM,” enthusiastically writes another. “TJ’s did it again,” says a shopper. What else can I say? When it comes to desserts, Trader Joe’s just gets it.
Mackenzie Filson is a food & beverage writer and native Floridian. Her work has appeared in PUNCH, Delish, Kitchn, and EatingWell, amongst others. You can read more of her writing in her newsletter, Book Sommelier, where she pairs books with wine (her one party trick.)
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Trader Joe’s is known for being one of the most affordable grocery options out there, and yet, it’s also one of the best spots to find high-quality items, like a bourbon vanilla bean paste to give all of your homemade baked goods the seriously delicious upgrade they deserve. And now, thanks to Trader Joe’s latest drop of springtime eats, you can yet again grab a jar of their beloved pitted Amarena cherries.
Back by popular demand, the Pitted Amarena Cherries with Stems are a customer-favorite sweet treat. If you’re not familiar, Amarena cherries are small dark, bitter cherries typically grown in Bologna, Italy. They are packed in a sweet syrup that gives your dish a rich cherry-almond flavor. Sold at just $4.49 a jar, these cherries are perfect to have on hand for a little sweet treat in the afternoon, or to top on all of your favorite desserts.
Customers are, of course, raving about these cherries. “[They’re] the best! I buy five every time I find them,” writes one enthusiastic shopper on a post from @trader_joes_treasure_hunt.
Many shoppers are also commenting on their favorite ways to enjoy these cherries, and to be honest with you, we’re taking notes after seeing all these tips. One shopper says these cherries are ideal in a tall glass of lemonade. Another says they enjoy making a Black Forest cake with a mix of these cherries and frozen cherries to balance out the sweetness. TJ’s lovers also say these are great for making cocktails such as an old fashioned, or even homemade sodas. We’re thinking a soda with this cherry-vanilla syrup sounds particularly delicious.
Needless to say, we have a feeling you are going to want to get your hands on a jar before it sells out, especially if shoppers are buying them five at a time. With the way TJ’s cycles through their grocery products, we have a feeling this popular staple won’t be on shelves for long.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
On a trip abroad a few weeks ago, I was tasked with explaining Trader Joe’s to a Danish person (not an easy feat). “Some have said it sells everything and nothing,” is how I started my description (a high compliment, honestly), before describing my favorite out-of-the-box products, the music, and the idiosyncratic interactions I’ve had in stores. Well, it seems that Trader Joe’s not only picked up on my description, but also doubled down on the “everything and nothing” with its new items this month.
Whether you’ve noticed it or not, I love spotting a theme in my shopping choices, and the theme of this month’s haul is something I call “We Didn’t Need This.” Did I need any of these items? Absolutely not. Am I glad they exist? Absolutely. We live in peak “little treat culture,” and there’s certainly a little treat for everyone this month — even if it’s just a tiny smile-inducing sweet to stash in your pocket. Okay, so maybe one does need all of these things? I digress! On to the goods …
1. Salted Caramel Swirl Danish, $3.99 for 10.23 ounces
Breakfast, to me, is typically a meal marked by how well it goes with coffee. (In a pinch, I’ll go for one of these shockingly good instant coffees.) This is crucial because I’ll often make it to 11 a.m. without ingesting anything but coffee, and need to make sure that the caffeine alone doesn’t start to make me feel like I’m on the moon. So this is where something easy and coffee-compatible like a swirly-twirly danish really helps bring me back to earth.
Unlike other danishes I tend to see at the grocery store, these Salted Caramel Swirl Danishes aren’t one-note — far from it! This buttery danish pastry (baked by actual Danish bakers, like from Denmark) is piped with an almond custard that has that cherry-adjacent marzipan-y finish I love and goes super well with the salted caramel that swirls around and around. These danishes aren’t just a match for coffee in the morning, either; pair it with your next afternoon London Fog for a day-brightener like no other.
2. Mini Chocolate Chip Croissant Swirls, $3.99 for 8.5 ounces
Let me get to the point: I love these silly little swirls. I just popped a single one in my toaster oven to test and the smell from one (ONE!) buttery croissant swirl made me go, “Since when did I move into a French patisserie?” It makes total sense, as a French bakery supplier is who I have to thank for these are-they-breakfast-or-are-they-dessert creations.
No component of these Mini Chocolate Chip Croissant Swirls is lacking. The flaky layers? Light and airy, allowing the supremely rich semi-sweet mini chocolate chips to really shine. They’re buttery and subtly crunchy, yet they have doughy, melty innards — and they’re ready for a dip into some espresso. They’re also maybe one of my favorite sizes ever (the size of a silver dollar pancake). So cute! I have no notes.
3. Organic 100% Sicilian Lemon Juice, $3.29 for 8.45 ounces
I’m not sure what’s physically going on with me at the moment (trying not to Google it!), but my craving for sour, acidic, bright, tangy foods has been next-level (see: my emergency pack of Sour Patch Kids in my car cup holder). Even when I cook at home, my usual vinegary, citrusy friends could stand to be a bit bolder, so I was so excited to see that Trader Joe’s is now carrying Organic 100% Sicilian Lemon Juice.
I couldn’t help myself once I left the store — I took a swig. And whoa, this lemon juice was strikingly different from the lemons I slice up at home. The juice is still quite sour, yet not packed with too much acid or bite. It’s also incredibly aromatic, almost bergamot-adjacent. It also just tastes very fresh, and sure to be liquid gold in whatever you choose to use it for — maybe a French 75, some lemon bars, or the best lemon granita ever?
4. Brown Sugar Boba Mochi, $2.99 for 6.35 ounces
One of the first few things I did after a Trader Joe’s shop was rip into these mochi, pull out my phone, and text a friend a photo of the bag along with the caption, “Oh these are trouble.” My lifelong quest of ranking all the “not-too-sweet” treats of the world has led me to maybe my favorite Trader Joe’s treat of all time.
How did TJ’s do it? Well, imagine a brown sugar boba tea that was shrunken down into a bite-size mochi. That whole experience is basically what the grocer did with these chewy little mochi bites. The texture is unreal: They’re pillowy soft, with a powdery exterior that makes me feel like I’m eating a lightly sweetened mini cake donut. My only gripe is that they are individually wrapped once you break into the main bag, which will definitely slow my roll when it comes to devouring these.
5. Brown Butter Salted Caramel Mini Biscotti, $4.99 for 9 ounces
Trader Joe’s is clearly going all in on salted-caramelizing as many things as possible (ice cream! Bread pudding! Baking chips!), and this time it’s the newest seasonal mini biscotti. It’s been a real neck-and-neck competition at the Not Too Sweet Awards 2024, but these Brown Butter Salted Caramel Mini Biscotti just might clinch the second-place spot after the Brown Sugar Boba Mochi.
The brown butter taste, I find, is often lost if it’s not in a freshly homemade dish, but these biscotti manage to encapsulate the buttery-toasty notes really nicely. I honestly got more of a brown butter, maple syrup, and pancake flavor combo here (rather than caramel), which I was not mad about. There’s really nothing to criticize about these biscotti — especially after you dunk one in some steamed milk.
Which new Trader Joe’s items are you adding to your cart? Tell us in the comments below.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Who doesn’t love a Trader Joe’s frozen food find? From their delicious and simple dinners to their clever sweet treats, the Trader Joe’s frozen food section is stocked with all kinds of scrumptious eats that shoppers can’t get enough of. The discount grocer is always stocking their freezers with new seasonal treats, and it seems there is a new favorite that shoppers are already raving about: the Trader Joe’s Brown Sugar Boba Mochi.
Sold for just $2.99, the Brown Sugar Boba Mochi are individually-wrapped mochi balls made with soft and chewy rice cakes, then stuffed with a boba pearl center. They are gluten-free and come with twelve mochi balls, with two balls equivalent to one serving. In their description, Trader Joe’s says that this sweet treat is a “callback to the beloved boba shop classic” with all of the taste of a sweet boba tea without the straw.
In a review of this product, Natasha Fischer from @traderjoeslist on Instagram says she was surprised that despite the brown sugar flavor of this dessert, the mochi isn’t as sweet as she thought it would be. “I really like this because it’s not too sweet. It definitely has a lot of chewy mochi [texture]… I was expecting more of a gooey boba pearl center.”
Trader Joe’s shoppers have taken to social media to share how much they love this new cheap sweet treat, commenting on how they’ve “been influenced” to go to their local TJ’s and get a bag themselves. One TikToker even comments on how the taste of the Brown Sugar Boba Mochi tastes similar to the Trader Joe’s Non-Dairy Brown Sugar Oat Creamer.
Although it is unclear how long this new Trader Joe’s dessert will be on shelves, it might be worth snagging a bag if you see one; with all of this hype online, we have a feeling this will be another TJ’s gem that is going to sell out fast.
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
If you’re taking a trip to Trader Joe’s for a grocery run, don’t skip over the plant section this season. While TJ’s is known for selling all kinds of hidden tasty gems, they also offer an extensive selection of flowers and plants at a cheap price point — and their most recent springtime planters are not to be missed.
Sold at a remarkably low price point of $2.99, Trader Joe’s is selling a few of their signature mini succulents in beautifully crafted white planting pots. The design is a simple, elegant drawing that comes in two different colors: dark blue and teal. These planters are the same prices as their normal mini succulents sold in terra-cotta pots, so if you’re a plant mom or dad looking for something new to add to your collection, snatch one of these up before they’re gone!
The importance of physical, mental, and emotional wellness is something that should always be highlighted in the African American community. Sekou Walton, personal trainer and founder of Body Assassin is an advocate for educating our community about the importance of health and wellness. Walton who founded his personal training business Body Assassin in 2007 says “one thing that I’ve noticed is we lack the knowledge of fitness and wellness.” There are many factors that play a role in gaining beneficial knowledge.
Walton explained that working out plays a role, but the focus must start with nutrition. The food that we eat and how it is prepared needs to be reevaluated. When it comes to the meals, we prepare Walton says, “it has to start with our elders, we have to encourage them to make better choices.” He also explained that the rate of hypertension is high in the African American community. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention African American adults are 30 percent more likely to have high blood pressure.
Some easy tips and tricks that Walton has when it comes to nutrition is understanding how the body works and what it needs to thrive and survive. He says that “in order to see change it is important to keep it simple.” Understand what you are putting into your body. Staying away from processed, fried, and high sugar foods is key. Walton explained that it is important to find grocery stores like Sprouts, Trader Joes, and Whole Foods that can meet those needs.
When it comes to being involved with fitness Walton says, “you do not have to join a gym to be active, use your local parks or places around your area to stay moving.” He also explained that it is important to be aware and check in on the stressors of your life. It is good to know that when you are active it can also help with your mental being as well. Walton has seen since being in this industry that for other cultures and demographics fitness and having a trainer is a lifestyle for them. He is hoping to see that become the same way for our culture. In the future Walton hopes to see more Black families being active together and spreading the importance of it all to others.
Walton’s goal is continuing to educate the African American community on the importance of getting your rest, eating foods that fuel your body, working on staying in a good mental space, and staying active. He believes that when we show up for ourselves, that is when we are able to be seen as the best versions of ourselves. To find out more information, or if you have any questions or inquiries about Sekou and Body Assassin check him out on Instagram @bodyassassin.
