Will Twin Falls Get a Trader Joe’s? Here’s What We Found Out

Will Trader Joe’s Ever Open in Twin Falls? Here’s What We Found Out

Trader Joe’s has been at the top of Twin Falls' grocery wish list for years. Every time we run a poll asking what store locals want most, Trader Joe’s comes in at number one. So, in an attempt to get some real answers,I reached out to Trader Joe’s corporate team to ask:

What are the chances Twin Falls will ever get a store?

What Trader Joe’s Had to Say

The response was prompt and polite—but not exactly groundbreaking.

In their defense, I bet they get asked this a thousand times a week - And they probably couldn't give a direct response, even if they knew.

Nakia Rohde, Public Relations Manager at Trader Joe’s, replied:

“We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year. At this time, we do not have a location confirmed in Twin Falls.”

In other words, it’s not a no, but it’s not a yes. Rohde also pointed me to an episode of the company’s podcast, Inside Trader Joe’s, where they break down how they decide where to open new locations.

How Does Trader Joe’s Choose New Locations?

According to the podcast, there’s no magic formula, but there are a few things that matter:

• Population Density – The more people in an area, the better. Trader Joe’s looks for locations with either a high population or a large trade area where people are willing to travel to shop.
• Traffic Flow – If it takes too long for people to get to an existing Trader Joe’s, that could be a reason to open another store nearby.
• Parking – They do care about parking! Any location needs to have enough space to handle a steady stream of customers. If you've been to Trader Joe's in Boise, you might question this.

The company is focused on slow, controlled growth. They aren’t in the business of expanding rapidly or taking over existing grocery stores. They prefer to open one carefully planned store at a time.

Read More: Popular Shuttered Twin Falls Restaurant Plans Major Comeback

What’s the Smallest City With a Trader Joe’s?

To see if Twin Falls stands a chance from a population standpoint, I asked if they could name the smallest metro with a Trader Joe’s, but they couldn’t provide that information.

So, I did some digging.

One of the smallest towns with a Trader Joe’s is Hadley, Massachusetts, which has a population of only 5,250. However, Hadley is part of the Springfield, MA metro area, which has a population of around 700,000. From the population angle, Twin has some catching up to do.

Twin Falls (with about 50,000 people in city limits and approaching 100,000 in the greater Twin Falls area) would be on the lower end—but technically, not the smallest.

Read More: Popular Clothing Store Coming Soon to Twin Falls

How Can Twin Falls Residents Show Interest?

Social media campaigns and petitions don’t influence Trader Joe’s decisions. However, they do have an official way for communities to express interest. If you’d like to see a Trader Joe’s in Twin Falls, you can submit a location request directly on their website.

It won't guarantee a store, but it lets the company know there’s demand in the area. I know that a lot of you have done this already, but if you want it bad enough, you'll do it again and again... and again. You've heard of the squeaky wheel, right?

Will Twin Falls Ever Get a Trader Joe’s?

Right now, there’s no confirmation that a Trader Joe’s is coming to Twin Falls. But the store is expanding, and the company is always looking at new locations. That means it’s possible—but I wouldn't bank on it anytime soon.

For now, we wait—and maybe plan a road trip to the closest Trader Joe’s in Boise. And if you prefer to stay close to home, Natural Grocers in Twin Falls provides many of the same types of products you'll find shopping at Trader Joe's.