From the moment the sliding doors open, I feel my cells overcome by serotonin as my eyes shift from section to section. My brain is already planning a shopping route. 

I'm at Trader Joe’s: a national chain of neighborhood grocery stores that started in Monrovia, California in 1958, with 530 stores settled nationwide now. Known for offering a plethora of natural and organic high-quality products at low prices, it is popular among a broad range of ages. 

The process of exploring at Trader Joe’s is overwhelming, but in an exciting manner. From the colorful ray of flowers greeting you at the entrance to the corner aisle filled with freshly refrigerated dairy products, there’s not an aisle I can skip past. 

As soon as I step foot in the first aisle, my jaw drops: Strawberry Yogurt-O’s, Maple Pecan Clusters, Joe’s O’s. A section only for cereals! As soon as I step foot in the first aisle, my jaw drops: a section only for cereals! Strawberry Yogurt-O’s, Maple Pecan Clusters, Joe’s O’s. I continue moving, since I am on a mission. The employee nearby must have read my mind, as he directs me to a hidden corner of the store with Chili & Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chips, also known as the Trader Joe’s version of Takis. As I place the chips in my cart, I hear a gasp behind me: a bearded middle-aged man being fascinated by the shelves filled with beer.

My footsteps become faster when I see the large aisle of freezed goods, filled with my favorite meals: Cauliflower Gnocchi, Organic Acai Bowl, Honey Walnut Shrimp. I eagerly put the package in my cart. I spot another girl my age putting the same into her cart, and I smile, knowing we both will be having a good dinner sometime soon. 

I walk past the entrance again, noticing the doors constantly letting all types of people in: a group of sweat-drenched runners that just finished a marathon, an elderly couple with matching flower masks holding hands, a dad trying to jot down a grocery list while on the phone with his wife. The atmosphere brightens up as the runners rush to the ice cream section and the dad attempts to stop his toddler from touching the packs of chocolates and gums by the register.

While the cashier checks my items out, I catch sight of two moms, grabbing an apple mango at the same time. Instead of arguing, they both laugh, introduce themselves, and grab another one from the colorful display of mangoes. 

Trader Joe’s is more than just a grocery store—it is a community with various perks central to each aisle. Each time I visit, I am able to walk out of the store with both of my hands occupied, no regrets on anything I bought, and a satisfied smile knowing it was a great experience.