Okay. I have been living in the dark ages because apparently I was the only person who didn't know about Trader Joe's. My friends talked about it, yelpers talked about it so on my recent trip to the states I decided to come out of my cave and experience it first hand. ( I used to think that it was a some sort of hardware store). :P I expected a bigger store from all the talk and when I stepped in, i was like "what's all the big deal?" Well... Gotta tell ya. I am eating their brand of high fibre cereal which I bought for 2 dollar something and it tastes good an it has 7g of fibre! :) And they have whole bunch of items that are Trader Joe brands and they are really good prices. And they had gluten free options items that are fraction of the prices here. Great little store. I think it's a good thing it isn't a mega monster store. You can find all the things easily and their own brand of items are really good deals. I got myself some steak meat, cheese and some canned goods and came of the store satisfied that I now know what Trader Joe's is. read more

Trader Joe's - Exemption on groceries. - Grocery Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Ok it's close to Christmas on a Monday and this store is so crowded you cannot walk around. People are just blocking asles staring at products like a bunch of zombies. I guess you can view it as pretty entaintering. Still love the store read more

I am thankful for a Trader Joe's in Bellingham. The prices in general are low and the quality that you buy is high. There are random new products to try BUT don't count on your favorites to stick around. Trader Joe's has a tendency to have things go out of stock for long stretches, or become discontinued entirely. Get in the habit of asking staff if the Quince Spread/Cajun Salmon will ever come back, for example :( The salads are great, and I am a fan of the bean and cheese burritos in the same aisle, for something quick for work. Great dairy selection, and snacks. There are great options for the organics, as well as produce. Although I usually get my produce elsewhere. I consider Trader Joe's as a supplementary store to my usual shopping locations, Whole Foods and Fred Meyer. The largest CON would be the crazy parking situation. Lots of antics during the rush hours, it is less stressful to go either early before 10am or around the evenings after 6pm. read more

This is the perfect blend of a farmers market and your favorite local grocery store. The staff are always incredible friendly and helpful. I make the journey at least once a month. I've never come home disappointed. read more

I bicycle from the Peace Arch to Bellingham with Traders Joes as the destination of my sortie. I enjoy the Great Coffee the Frozen Organic Blueberries and Nuts. There large selection of Kosher Items some times makes think I'm shopping in a Jewish neighbourhood in New York City not suburban/rural Washington State. Recently I had some Heirloom Oranges from this location that tasted wonderful. One suggestion this locaiton needs more bicycle racks read more

Five stars for Trader Joe's Three stars for the parking lot Walking though traders joes is always an adventure and always useful. However the parking lot is a disaster, always overcrowded and a pain to look around and even on the street it's not fun I sure wish they Move to anyplace with good parking read more

I love Trader Joe's products. There's an amazing selection of produce, alcoholic beverages, and vegetarian products. I shop here every few weeks to stock up on my favorite items. Quality items at a reasonable price. Downsides 1) parking is awful. Best of luck to you. 2) customers seem to be oblivious to the fact that others are shopping. It's the opinion of this Midwesterner that shoppers out here act like there's a Black Friday sale...daily. So rude. 3) workers can be quite rude. Often cashiers socialize with friends when you're attempting to check out. I would shop here more often if I didn't mind having a mental breakdown. I'll have to attempt shopping as soon as the store opens. That might ease my tortured mind. read more

A manager by the name of Andrew went WAY above the call of duty the other day when he helped a father in need. The details are too strange to recount here but I have to say I was well impressed with his compassion. I had never even heard of Traders Joes prior to this encounter but I can tell you now I will never forget it! Andrew if you're reading this, I got the package and you provided a genuine connection with our daughter. Thank you. You are a class Act. read more

My favorite grocery store. Amazing prices, yummy and easy to make meals, stocked and typically ready for all of us Canadians to spend all our cash! Love it! Would like to sample some more items, I always get shy asking to try stuff, even though they share with everyone else around. Love the staff, they are so kind and helpful, whether it's checking stock, giving out samples, checking-out, and the help/return area. Everyone is always so willing and available which I love. Would love to know in advance which items are being discontinued so that I can stock up, missing tons of products that they used to make like the Bahn Mi inspired tofu noodle bowl and their other shrimp noodle bowls that they used to have. Would like to see the store enlarged or another location in the area opened, maybe in Blaine! read more

Trader Joe's is an American institution. They have the best customer service and set a very high standard for any store to achieve. All the stores, especially Bellingham is always super busy. Why? They have their own very high-quality brand, that requires the manufacturer that is making the specialty item to follow Trader Joe's guidelines. I was informed that many manufacturers would like to be able to make a product for Trader's, but they are not able to meet the strict high standards. You can see and taste when you buy one of their products. Bellingham Trader Joe's gets locally grown produce and sells it for a very reasonable price. I'm always amazed at how fresh all the items are. The staff even looks at what you are buying to make sure you don't get something that may not be as fresh as it could be. They really take care of their customers. When they check you out, they always have an energetic glow as they help you. The Bellingham is one of the best stores I've been to in the Pacific coast area. I commend them for the great service they do for this area. read more

I don't live there but my parents frequent this store and they do an AMAZING job of taking care of my elderly parents. Thank you for your stellar service!!!!! read more

Ahhhh the coconut cranberry granola has been discontinued!! Never fear they are looking for a new distributor, so it might be back. Came here last night with the family....it was a BC holiday, so the store was packed. Despite the craziness and the emptying of shelves the employees were still super friendly and helpful. 5 stars for the great service, 3.5 stars because I never come home with everything on my shopping list. read more

Trader Joe's - Small haul February 8, 2016 - Grocery Near Me - Bellingham, Washington

Trader Joes is seriously the best grocery store ever. We drive up from Canada just to go to it! I wish they'd open up shop out here, that would be a dream come true!!! This location in particular is super friendly and always enjoyable to visit, almost like a field trip! Thanks Trader Joes! read more

I must say each time I shop here it is great. The people who help me find some items have the store down. They even helped me figure out a great bbq recipe. Thank you TJ's read more

LOVE Trader Joe's.. I first encountered this chain when I was a student living in the States. A grocery known for quality items with good value, I was thrilled when I found out there was a Trader Joe's in Bellingham! As if I need more reason to go south of the border! I recommend at least trying the following TJ products : the 3 usd wines; frozen macarons; dark chocolate Powerberries; Butterscotch sea salt caramels; meringue; cookie butter ice cream. Frozen lamb vindaloo and the mandarin chicken. Great selection of cheeses (Double Cream Brie with Truffles & the Italian truffle & cheddar cheeses)! I'm also currently obsessed with their Nourish facial cleanser (4 usd for 8.45 oz)! It's described on the label as a "gel" and really foams up (I use it with my Clarisonic). It's indeed tearless, removes my makeup as good as high end cleansers. You can check makeupalley.com for more reviews! Plus, TJ's highly rated sulfate-free tea tree tingle shampoo and conditioner are a steal at 3+ usd per bottle! Nice and super friendly & helpful staff too! In fact, this cute cashier gave me a free small bag for my toiletries last time I was there. Sadly, parking is limited out in front (hey, you can't win them all). So, I'd go during weekdays. Overall, a completely pleasant shopping experience in Bellingham! read more

Just a hop and a skip across the border, this location opens early at 8am so skip the mid morning border rush and go early. I'm still mystified of the allure and addiction of Trader Joe's products. I literally get excited every time I step foot inside. Is it the quality and care they put in their products? Or is it the economical pricing? One thing in sure is the clever whimsical branding and friendly customer service. Oh and the samples of food and coffee gets a merit badge! 18/30 of 30 Days of Yelp read more

You only have to read yelp reviews of Trader Joe's in Bellingham to see how significant their Canadian customers are in terms of shoppers. Of the most recent reviews 8 of 10 are from residents of Canada and the proportion is consistent as the number of reviews grows. I was not aware that Canada imposed a ban on raw poultry in January and perhaps I should have been. However, Trader Joes would certainly have known and the slightest bit of consideration would have been to have signage or provide a verbal warning to customers, particularly if multiple purchases were made. Instead, they continue to let unsuspecting customers make purchases they know will be confiscated at the border. Profit at the expense of customer service. I sent a communication to Trader Joes a few weeks ago and despite their automated response that they "value" feedback and would respond I have not had any response. read more

As my boyfriend says "Trader Joe's has convinced people that processed junk food is okay under the name of Trader Joe's." And you know, he is so RIGHT. That is, if you're buying the 'junk'. I have to admit I like a good bag of olive oil popcorn.. and their cinnamon buns.. and their lemon tart. Where else can I get a bag of just pistachio nut meat for cheap? Or fig butter? Or cheap mesquite honey? Or frozen tom yam soup.. the list goes on. I love you TJ's, come to Vancouver. read more

If you come on a weekday before three, you won't get better service than this. The cashier was amazingly friendly and the wine guy helped me choose a wine. He told me if I wasn't satisfied that I could bring it back and get the next one for free! I doubt that I'll be bringing open alcohol across the border any time soon, but still, the thought was certainly there. They even have clean bathrooms. What's not to love about TJ's? My previous review says it all. read more

Count for yourself. Out of 21 cars parked at Trader Joe's in two rows, 18 of them were from Vancouver! WHY? Because the prices are great and the products are good. What's more, is that it's actually fun to shop for food at TJ's. Also the great staff to help you find items and ring you up efficiently. I was already spoiled, having lived in SF for 11 years. (Bay area for nearly 20.) And as much as I enjoy my friendly local market in Vancouver East Village, I still love our visits to Trader Joe's. *Bonus: WINE* *Note to TJ's: Why waste your money suing the guy who spends five grand a month at your store and resells to us up here? It just doesn't make any sense. Let it go! read more

I am an addict. An addict who goes and gets her TJ fix at least once a month. When I lived in the SF Bay area I had the good fortune to have a TJ about a 10 minute walk from my house. It was where I did about 80% of my grocery shopping for many years. When I knew that we were moving to Vancouver, before I even figured out how to import our cars, I was emailing TJ headquarters asking them to open a store in the border area. Where else did they expect me to find my mini cans of light coconut milk? I was there with my cooler the day they opened. Their cheese selection is broad and priced very reasonably. The dried fruit and nuts fill half an aisle - they have about 4 different types of dried cranberries alone! They have gourmet foods, vegetarian and organic foods, foreign foods, frozen prepared foods plus the everyday staples. I must also mention their outstanding beer and wine selection, although I am rarely down for 48 hours so I don't even subject myself to the pain of walking down that aisle. Oh, how I love and miss you "Two-Buck Chuck". A glance through my pantry, fridge and freezer may lead you to believe I still have a TJ a 10 minute walk away. From the selection, to the pricing, to the awesome staff and to the best return policy around, Trader Joe and I will make this long distance relationship work. read more

As I don't have many other TJ's to compare this location to, this one is pretty great with little complaints. The workers are always busy re-stocking shelves and in a good mood! They're always helpful if you're looking for an item or looking a little lost. I've come across many great items and many items that were great and others just OK. Every time I go I grab at least a couple things I've never tried before to see if they make it on my must-buy-again list. This list includes (and is not limited to) organic chopped kale, mushroom/asparagus frozen risotto, frozen mochi, half salted pistachios, pink lemonade, yogurt, many of their spices and olive oils, and the list goes on. You can't miss the crunchy cookie butter! I love their Fearless Flyer especially during the holidays with their seasonal items so every year around the beginning of December is a must-go for me! One thing they need to work on is their washroom. There are two individual washrooms for this location (which is also shared with staff members I think). The one time I had to use it I waited about 10 minutes as the long-up was quite long. Unlikely anything can be done to fix this but would be nice. Other than that definitely recommended if you've never been as they have lots of fun food items at affordable prices. A regular customer over here. read more

Everyone has their crack. For some women it's shoes, for some men it's electronics. For me it's food. I love good quality food. But I love good quality food at a discounted price even more. I lived in LA for 2 years. I was a poor student with very little time or cash so I couldn't exactly take advantage of the "scene". But Trader Joes kept me sane (and well, properly buzzed...2 buck chuck anyone?). From candy, to veggies, to frozen alaskan salmon...I was in heaven. That and everyone who worked there was shockingly chipper and helpful. It was odd. Go to Albertsons across the street and it looked like employees wanted to off themselves in the freezer aisle. Anyhoo, my point is, to this day, this is one of my happy places. The peanut butter pretzels make me happy. The whole wheat pasta for 1.99 makes me happy. And the 2 buck chuck would make me happy if NAFTA could suddenly apply to under 24h trips across the border. I digress. So if you are in Seattle for the weekend, make a stop in Bellingham before you hit the border. You won't be sorry. read more

I live a few blocks from TJs and was so happy when I heard they were coming into town. After going there a few times, I've been unimpressed. Sure they have funky stuff, but lack many of the staples that you think a grocery store would carry. If you like cheap, processed food, this is the place to go. But the veggies aren't very fresh (and way overpackaged) and the nuts were rancid. And although they effectively tout the local theme, I doubt very little is locally produced/sourced. (I even heard that they wouldn't locate amongst stores that weren't national chains, which is why the mom&pop video store left. Don't know if this is fact or fiction though, as Sportsman Chalet has since moved in.) Needless to say, other than the shopping experience and people watching, I don't feel very compelled to shop at Trader Joe's. There are better choices in Bellingham, like Youngstocks across the street. TJs feels like a Wal-Mart for yuppies. read more

An amazingly successful and popular community grocery chain store. I hope they never change. I expected a bigger store, but it's great because it just magnifies how popular this store really is. The parking lot was jammed and there were line ups at the check out counter, but no one seemed to mind. They loved the things they were buying and they didn't mind waiting. Who has ever heard of a supermarket behave like this? They must be doing something right. Their branding works because it favors the health conscious and we all know a thing or two about a person's health in America. Yikes! Anyway, they cover all things organic like fruits, vegetables, drinks, coffee, meats, and even chocolate chip cookies. And if that's not enough for you there are lots more organic items to list. You just have to come and take a look for yourself. read more

This place rules!!! We love the huge selection of goods at prices that can't be beat. We have tried lots of stuff here and have yet to find something we don't like. Pizza dough is amazing...dont miss it. Wraps are really great too...light and flaky...how do they do it? Cheese selection is just amazing!! Staff: EXCELLENT!! They are all super friendly, knowledgable, and very helpful. We love it here...don't ever change read more

Every time we go through Bellingham we stop at this Trader Joe's. They seem to have everything we need and a lot that we don't and buy anyway. I have been to the box store versions in San Francisco and the tiny road stop ones in L.A., but as Goldilocks would say , "this one is just right". They even have clean washrooms for the wayward traveler and of course offer samples in the back if you're feeling peckish. Some of our must have items that we can't seem to beat the price and quality anywhere else are: Tom's toothpaste, lavender laundry soap, Trader Joe's organic butter, huge variety of cheeses, honey and organic free range eggs. We also love their garlic naan bread, lemon pepper pasta, turkey bacon, chocolate covered raspberry jellies, lime chili pistachios and cashews, sourdough rye bread, and the cranberry oatmeal dunkers. They also have a great selection of libations, but of course one must always consider the border. I don't even go into the alcoholic beverage section as can't help compare the prices to those in Canada and get upset. read more

Trader Joes' in general = nice stuff, decent price, fun motif = great store. Trader Joe's in Bellingham = wonderful. About the only negative I can think of is that the parking lot can get crazy busy and hard to park. But since 90%+ of Bellingham (and about that much of BC) comes to Trader Joe's that's the way it goes. I try to go when it's quieter, it happens, really. read more

Back in my hometown I used to live one block up the street from a Trader Joe's. I used to get a lot of my produce from there because the produce at the grocery store across the street from me was disgusting. I haven't been inside TJ for so long and I was happy to go there today to get some of my favorite foods (ex: pretzel rolls, cookie butter) and new foods (ex: mango slices with chili powder). I also loved seeing the beautiful flowers on the left as soon as you come in. Trader Joe's has a lot of variety and I'm looking forward to my next visit despite how busy it is. read more

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OMG! I fell in love with Trader Joe's! It definitely kicks Capers/Whole Foods' bum! Coming from Vancouver, regular groceries are already pretty friggin' expensive. Add organic/natural blah blah blah to that and it's definitely not something in my budget. But coming to Trader Joe's, I was so impressed! The selection of everything was awesome and appealing! I was impressed with their cheese selections. The organic milk was way cheaper than in Vancouver. The cost of a gallon (4L) of organic milk at Trader Joe's is as much as a half gallon (2L) in Vancouver! And the sausage selection was very cool, and unique in flavours. Yes, everything probably cost a bit more than other regular US groceries stores perhaps, but I find the prices at Trader Joe's for the quality quite reasonable. I think I will have to stop by every time I cross the border. Plus, the wine and beer selection was fun and way less expensive than in Vancouver too. Enuf said. ;-) read more

I quote Yelper Gina I.'s boyfriend: "Trader Joe's has convinced people that processed junk food is okay under the name of Trader Joe's." Hahahahaha.... *wipes tear from eyes* Actually I have to sort of agree. Much of the store sells processed food in the shape of boxes and cartons. The fresh produce selection is quite minimal. But there's still a place for processed food in the modern man's diet. Trader Joe's is perfect for stocking up healthier road trip snacks and non-hot lunches. We got some pita crackers, cheese, meats, ready-made salad, yogurt, and then drove over to a peaceful rest area. Made for a great lunch picnic on the road. And yeah, that olive oil popcorn is crack! read more

There is no doubt that Trader Joe's is a cool store. I used to stop by the nearest store (in Everett) from time to time, though I never made a trip just for TJs. But now it seems, that is what our TJs has become, the seemingly sole destination for 5 out of 10 BC residents from the lower Mainland. In any event, I will focus on the store, not the mobs of people that regularly pack the aisles of this particular store. Our TJs is kinda cool, completely different than any other TJs I have been to. There are painted murals of the local scenery. The check stands are named after local streets (as a born and bred local, I appreciate this particular touch). I like the idea of Trader Joe's and the product selection. It's like a complete grocery store, but not one that I would ever shop at, exclusively. I like that I can buy a full meal in one place, but wish they had some products that weren't their own. One reason this store doesn't earn 5 stars is packaging. TJs seems to cater to the single or two-person household. Small portions and lots and lots of packaging to make this happen. And that is too bad. Though it keeps everything fresh and easy to access, I am not wild about the waste. Another reason this store doesn't earn 5 stars is the employees. I get the impression that working at TJs is fun and employees like working there. I am kind of amazed how surly the employees working around the store are (and there are always staff stocking shelves...always)! This store gets cleaned out during busy days, so they have to stock during the day. But would it be too much to say "Hi" or offer a smile? Particularly in a store that is nearly always overrun with customers, a smile and greeting can go a long way. The managers behind the desk at the front seem to be able to look right through customers. Any more, I try to go to TJs as early in the day as possible. I have been after work on a weekday and it has not been too bad. But do try to go when it is not so busy. read more

I ordered a lot of flowers for my sister's wedding through Trader Joe's and everything turned out awesome. Audrey was a joy to work with, she did everything to accommodate us being that we were coming from CA for the wedding! They had ordered us lots of flowers to choose from, so we got a while to pick through what we liked or didn't like so much. Everything was beautiful- the flower selection was amazing! Cannot say enough good things! read more

Good god, in what universe did I give my beloved Trader Joe's only 3 stars? Must rectify that immediately. In fact, Trader Joe's has become pretty much the reason for a trip to Bellingham. (That and cheap gas.) The parking lot's still a nightmare (I'll never forget the time I managed to park an RV here - thanks DD!) and the place always seems too small for the throngs. We love it anyway for the cheap cheese, chocolate covered everything, frozen goodies, and bigger sizes of some of the same natural goods we get in Canada at higher prices. (For example, my favourite Puffins cereal comes in a box about 1 1/2 times larger than the same product in Canada.) And when I'm down south long enough not to get dinged at the border for my wine, look out. Though I'll never get used to the idea of having to maneuver around people's children to browse the wine section. I won't pretend Trader Joe's is all healthy food or bargain basement cheap, but the goods are quality. The people who work here are all young, cute and friendly too. Sometimes I wish other people liked it a little less ... read more

Love TDJ. I take my little Canadian dollar and toodle across the border heading for Traders. I buy their high protein house brand low fat greek style yogurt and use it for everything. The customer experience at Trader Joe's is so much more pleasant than the average grocery emporium. Can you imagine Safeway cashiers being genuinely nice like that? read more

Amazing selection! I love this place! The first time I don't know what I was expecting, but I browsed through and bought a few items. But if you look closely you will find some amazing buys! Trader Joe's have their own brands for many items which helps to keep their costs down for us! If you want to put together an impressive cheese platter for a party, you must stop by to pick up some wonderful cheeses! For under $35 I was able to pick up 6 decent (handful sized) chunks of cheese and 4 boxes of water crackers!! Some were cheaper than others but here's what I bought: Italian Truffle Cheese, English Cheddar with Caramalized Onions, Aged Vintage Cheddar (12 or 24 months...), Parmasiano Reggiano, Smoked Gouda, and a Brie Log. The Brie log is a must try for brie lovers! It must've been made by a true cheese lover that doesn't like the messiness of spreading a soft slice of round brie. It's made so you slice the pieces and they fit perfectly onto a cracker. Water crackers are 99 cents a box. It's wonderful. Government website if you're unsure about what you can bring back into Canada."What Can I Bring Into Canada in Terms Of Food, Plant, Animal and Related Products?" http://www.beaware.gc.ca/english/brirape.shtml#a1 read more

*IF* I was grading purely on the store itself, this place would surely get 4 stars (demerited only for its garbage excuse for a parking lot). *BUT* because the employees here all act like they're so effing cool, I'm taking another star. The prices here are crazy low and you can get all kinds of dope snacks, but damn, homie at the register is all kinds of icy... read more

Trade Joe's is by far the best grocery store out there. Selection is awesome, and all if their housebrand stuff is tasty and reasonable. I absolutely love trader joe's and make a 40 minute trip at least once a month to stock up. Oh, and can't forget the staff. Friendliest staff ever! read more

Trader Joes is a must stop shop when going to the USA. An exit past Bellisfair easy to find and lots of parking. We love coming here for groceries, it reminds me of Whole Foods but not "Whole Paycheque". Cookie Butter is a must buy, we stock up everytime. They even have Cookie Butter cookies yumm!! Trader Joes also has complimentary coffeee and samples in the back. The cheese and wine collection is awesome too!! Cheese for 5$ a pack? wow... Gouda, Brie, Blue etc.. Be sure to bring your own bag as they only have brown bags tooo The snack selection is great and so many natural, organic snacks too Sushi is not good though, very chewy and not good. But who actually buys sushi at a grocery store? Great place and customer service and work ethic is awesome :) read more

Apparently it's a rite of passage for Vancouverites passing through Bellingham to make a stop at Trader Joe's. Who knew? Affordable wine. Dark Chocolate Espresso Beans. Cat Ginger Cookies. So good. Oh and did I mention super friendly employees? I'm in. read more