Trader Joe’s may seem like just another grocery store, but it has become increasingly popular in the media. My friends and I will drive over 45 minutes to stock up on our favorite snacks from Trader Joe’s. It got me thinking about what makes this grocery store so popular? 

With their unique food options, affordable prices and fun seasonal snacks, there isn’t much not to love about this store. Like Aldi, most of their products consist of their own private labeled products. Having products that are limited to one store makes them that much more intriguing to the customer. The selection is not only unique but just seems better and tastier than other places around North Canton. 

Customers with food allergies enjoy shopping at this store. They have a wide variety of products for people who are vegan, gluten-free, dairy free or vegetarian. I have Celiac Disease and prefer to shop for gluten-free baked goods at Trader Joe’s because of their delicious taste and reasonable price. Products such as the gluten-free baguette, pumpkin muffins and salted chocolate chip cookies are some of my favorites. 

The store is not only filled with allergy friendly food but is also filled with many international meals, both allergy friendly and not. These international frozen meals are a big part of Trader Joe’s products. They carry many high quality, affordable and globally inspired cuisines. Some of these meals include the Mandarin Orange Chicken, Thai Green Curry and Chicken Soup Dumplings. Being able to purchase unique frozen meals is a big appeal of this store.

Besides delicious food, the story of Trader Joe’s growth is interesting to learn about. Most people know the grocery store Aldi, but did you know that they own Trader Joe’s? Two brothers owned Aldi, but after a disagreement, they split the store. After the split, one brother, Theo Albrecht bought Trader Joe’s from Joe Coulombe in California, while the other brother, Karl Albrecht kept Aldi. Although Aldi is the umbrella name, Aldi Sud owns Aldi, while Aldi Nord owns Trader Joe’s. Theo’s purchase of Trader Joe’s helped increase sales and popularity significantly. 

After finding out why Trader Joe’s is so popular, why hasn’t North Canton built one? Why does Stark County have over 60 car washes, but won’t put a Trader Joe’s in our area? 

The answer is surprisingly simple. North Canton does not fit in the demographic that Trader Joe’s expects before building a new store. Online resources explain how most customers have to fit into a certain characteristic. These include people who are in their mid 20’s to early 40’s. The average customer is married, with their average income being around $80,000. 

Although I believe our community sounds like it would fit the requirements set by Trader Joe’s, there are more aspects to consider. Not only do you have to get Trader Joe’s attention, but also your local government. If the local government agrees to establish a store to be built in their town, there are many steps involved in the building process. Land first has to be zoned and permitted. Then the site needs to be reviewed and approved. After that, a building permit would be needed along with complying to 2024 Ohio Building Codes. Then, state-licensed contractors are needed in addition to liability insurance. Finally, after the store finishes any final inspections, the store can officially open. Building a new store in your area is no easy task, but it’s not impossible. 

It may seem like a losing battle, but the fight for a Trader Joe’s being built is far from over. As the citizens of North Canton, we can try to make a positive change to our community. On the Trader Joe’s website you are able to request a new store in your area. Even though it will take more than just sending a request through a website, if enough people feel strongly about this, we may be able to make a change.