Upper West Side Trader Joe's, deemed world's busiest, is temporarily shutting down

Loyal customers of the Trader Joe's in Manhattan's Upper West Side will have to find another place to shop.

The store on West 72nd Street and Broadway has a sign posted saying it will be temporarily closing for "major renovation plans." The last day the grocery store will be open is May 17.

"We promise not to be gone too long & will reopen as soon as we can," the sign read.

Trader Joe's said the remodel will take several months and that they store will reopen "as soon as we possible can." In the meantime, employees will be assigned to other stores in the area. 

The neighborhood grocery store is known for its specialty food and drinks sold under its own private label.       

"Busiest Trader Joe's in the world"

The massive, two-story store is just two blocks from Central Park. It's always packed with customers, and the line for the register typically wraps around part of the store.

Staff said it's "hands down the busiest Trader Joe's in the world." 

It features two elevators, four escalators and three times as many checkout stands and employees as other locations. 

"The need renovations," shopper Jean Lithgow said. "The escalators break all the time." 

Affordable groceries

The chain prides itself on its reasonable prices, which is part of the reason the store is so appealing to New Yorkers. 

"There's not really another supermarket that's, honestly, affordable, especially with the grocery prices going up. So I think a lot of people just come here for it. So I think it's unfortunate," one shopper said. 

Food costs in the city rose more than 50% between 2012-13 and 2022-23, according to a 2025 report by the State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli.

"My office is keeping a close eye on what is driving affordability issues in the city and state, and it has not escaped anyone that higher food costs have hit household budgets in New York City hard, with price increases outpacing income growth," DiNapoli said in a news release.