I shopped at the smallest Trader Joe's in the world. It was chaotically crowded but full of character.

Ann Matica Jun 28, 2022, 07:31 IST

Ann Matica/Insider

I stopped by the smallest Trader Joe's store on the planet to see how tiny it really is.
Located in downtown Boston, the store had a surprising amount of grocery options for its size.

Tucked along Boylston Street in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood is the smallest Trader Joe's in the world.

Ann Matica/Insider

I decided to visit the location to pick up some of my favorite groceries and see how small the store really is.

Ann Matica/Insider

Walking up, the compact entrance seemed like an indication of what was to come.

Ann Matica/Insider

As soon as I walked through the automatic doors, I was greeted by a sign welcoming me to Back Bay Trader Joe’s.

Ann Matica/Insider

A colorful mural gave a nod to the swan boats in the Boston Public Garden. It was delightful.

Ann Matica/Insider

Another sign on the wall declared that I was “entering the smallest Trader Joe’s in the known universe.” I was happy to see I was in the right place.

Ann Matica/Insider

I stepped on the escalator to get to the store layout below. I was so busy looking at the sprawling mural on the wall that I almost caused a traffic jam.

Ann Matica/Insider

There were a surprising number of store-specific signs. One read, "Smallest store, biggest heart." I tried to recall if I'd seen anything similar at other Trader Joe's locations I visited, but I came up blank.

Ann Matica/Insider

There were a surprising number of store-specific signs. One read, "Smallest store, biggest heart." I tried to recall if I'd seen anything similar at other Trader Joe's locations I visited, but I came up blank.

The flower section was directly in front of me as I stepped off the escalator, and a line of registers was to my right.

Ann Matica/Insider

I couldn’t help but to stop and admire the flowers before exploring the rest of the store.

Ann Matica/Insider

It was 6 p.m. when I arrived at the store, and Trader Joe’s was bustling with the after-work crowd.

Ann Matica/Insider

The store is broken up into three long aisles and two short ones that veer off to the side.

Ann Matica/Insider

Each section was filled with customers holding baskets or wheeling shopping carts through the tight rows.

Ann Matica/Insider

Although the basement space is small, the location stocked all the usual food selections — at least, from what I could tell. The bread and produce areas had lots of options to choose from.

Ann Matica/Insider

Although the basement space is small, the location stocked all the usual food selections — at least, from what I could tell. The bread and produce areas had lots of options to choose from.

I was on the hunt to find some Trader Joe’s specialty items I needed to restock at home.

Ann Matica/Insider

After seeing the fully stocked shelves and coolers, I was hopeful I could find the groceries I go to Trader Joe's specifically for.

Ann Matica/Insider

Making my way through the store, I found myself accidentally bumping into other shoppers in the cramped aisles or vice versa.

Ann Matica/Insider

There were a lot of mumbled apologies and jostling as people tried to navigate the tight space.

Ann Matica/Insider

Some Trader Joe’s employees were stocking shelves, causing the small path to be even more packed than before.

Ann Matica/Insider

I found the spice section and was thrilled to see they carried one of my favorite toppings — "Everything but the Bagel" seasoning.

Ann Matica/Insider

The meat section was smaller than at other Trader Joe’s locations I’ve visited. Even though the options were limited, I was still able to find the pollo asado chicken I was looking for.

Ann Matica/Insider

The meat section was smaller than at other Trader Joe’s locations I’ve visited. Even though the options were limited, I was still able to find the pollo asado chicken I was looking for.

There’s also an extensive cheese and dairy section, but I skipped over it since I’m lactose intolerant.

Ann Matica/Insider

Luckily, I found the selection of milk alternatives to be abundant.

Ann Matica/Insider

The grab-and-go area had lots of prepackaged meals and bottled drink options. I thought about how convenient it must be for people working in the area to grab a quick lunch here.

Ann Matica/Insider

The grab-and-go area had lots of prepackaged meals and bottled drink options. I thought about how convenient it must be for people working in the area to grab a quick lunch here.

I chose a vanilla almond milk spiced chai drink to try. I’d never seen the product at another Trader Joe’s, and it was cool to find something new at a store I assumed would have less stock than most.

Ann Matica/Insider

I chose a vanilla almond milk spiced chai drink to try. I’d never seen the product at another Trader Joe’s, and it was cool to find something new at a store I assumed would have less stock than most.

The line of people and shopping carts in front of the frozen food section was daunting. I decided it wasn’t worth the wait and moved on from the freezers.

Ann Matica/Insider

The store is accessible thanks to an elevator that can bring shoppers from the first floor to the basement.

Ann Matica/Insider

But I still wondered if the packed store and small aisles posed more of a difficulty for people with disabilities to maneuver than other Trader Joe's locations.

Ann Matica/Insider

Shoppers often blocked the pathways with their carts as they browsed the variety of food options.

Ann Matica/Insider

I was once again overjoyed to find one of my favorite Trader Joe’s items on the shelves. Although they were out of the sour kind, the regular Scandinavian Swimmer gummies would do.

Ann Matica/Insider

I was once again overjoyed to find one of my favorite Trader Joe’s items on the shelves. Although they were out of the sour kind, the regular Scandinavian Swimmer gummies would do.

There were a few of my top picks that the Back Bay location didn't carry. I was disappointed, but the new Trader Joe's products I discovered — like these gyro slices — made up for it.

Ann Matica/Insider

There were a few of my top picks that the Back Bay location didn't carry. I was disappointed, but the new Trader Joe's products I discovered — like these gyro slices — made up for it.

After I finished shopping, I joined the long line of customers waiting to check out.

Ann Matica/Insider

Unlike Trader Joe’s locations, which have multiple lines to wait in, there’s only one queue here.

Ann Matica/Insider

It leads to five different registers, and everyone had to wait for a cashier to call them over before they could check out.

Ann Matica/Insider

I rang up my items at a small wooden desk.

Ann Matica/Insider

The wall behind the register was full of reusable Trader Joe’s bags that were available for purchase.

Ann Matica/Insider

Once I paid for my groceries, I headed back up the escalator to the street.

Ann Matica/Insider

Although I hadn’t found everything on my list, I was content with my shopping experience. The new items were exciting, and I loved looking at the Boston-themed mural by the entrance.

Ann Matica/Insider

Although I hadn’t found everything on my list, I was content with my shopping experience. The new items were exciting, and I loved looking at the Boston-themed mural by the entrance.

Even though the store was cramped and felt a little chaotic when it was full of customers, I would visit it again. Next time, I’ll just plan to go earlier in the day to beat the rush of shoppers.

Ann Matica/Insider

Even though the store was cramped and felt a little chaotic when it was full of customers, I would visit it again. Next time, I’ll just plan to go earlier in the day to beat the rush of shoppers.

I shopped at the smallest Trader Joe's in the world. It was chaotically crowded but full of character.

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I shopped at the smallest Trader Joe's in the world. It was chaotically crowded but full of character.

Tucked along Boylston Street in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood is the smallest Trader Joe's in the world.

I decided to visit the location to pick up some of my favorite groceries and see how small the store really is.

Walking up, the compact entrance seemed like an indication of what was to come.

As soon as I walked through the automatic doors, I was greeted by a sign welcoming me to Back Bay Trader Joe’s.

A colorful mural gave a nod to the swan boats in the Boston Public Garden. It was delightful.

Another sign on the wall declared that I was “entering the smallest Trader Joe’s in the known universe.” I was happy to see I was in the right place.

I stepped on the escalator to get to the store layout below. I was so busy looking at the sprawling mural on the wall that I almost caused a traffic jam.

There were a surprising number of store-specific signs. One read, "Smallest store, biggest heart." I tried to recall if I'd seen anything similar at other Trader Joe's locations I visited, but I came up blank.

The flower section was directly in front of me as I stepped off the escalator, and a line of registers was to my right.

I couldn’t help but to stop and admire the flowers before exploring the rest of the store.

It was 6 p.m. when I arrived at the store, and Trader Joe’s was bustling with the after-work crowd.

The store is broken up into three long aisles and two short ones that veer off to the side.

Each section was filled with customers holding baskets or wheeling shopping carts through the tight rows.

Although the basement space is small, the location stocked all the usual food selections — at least, from what I could tell. The bread and produce areas had lots of options to choose from.

I was on the hunt to find some Trader Joe’s specialty items I needed to restock at home.

After seeing the fully stocked shelves and coolers, I was hopeful I could find the groceries I go to Trader Joe's specifically for.

Making my way through the store, I found myself accidentally bumping into other shoppers in the cramped aisles or vice versa.

There were a lot of mumbled apologies and jostling as people tried to navigate the tight space.

Some Trader Joe’s employees were stocking shelves, causing the small path to be even more packed than before.

I found the spice section and was thrilled to see they carried one of my favorite toppings — "Everything but the Bagel" seasoning.

The meat section was smaller than at other Trader Joe’s locations I’ve visited. Even though the options were limited, I was still able to find the pollo asado chicken I was looking for.

There’s also an extensive cheese and dairy section, but I skipped over it since I’m lactose intolerant.

Luckily, I found the selection of milk alternatives to be abundant.

The grab-and-go area had lots of prepackaged meals and bottled drink options. I thought about how convenient it must be for people working in the area to grab a quick lunch here.

I chose a vanilla almond milk spiced chai drink to try. I’d never seen the product at another Trader Joe’s, and it was cool to find something new at a store I assumed would have less stock than most.

The line of people and shopping carts in front of the frozen food section was daunting. I decided it wasn’t worth the wait and moved on from the freezers.

The store is accessible thanks to an elevator that can bring shoppers from the first floor to the basement.

But I still wondered if the packed store and small aisles posed more of a difficulty for people with disabilities to maneuver than other Trader Joe's locations.

Shoppers often blocked the pathways with their carts as they browsed the variety of food options.

I was once again overjoyed to find one of my favorite Trader Joe’s items on the shelves. Although they were out of the sour kind, the regular Scandinavian Swimmer gummies would do.

There were a few of my top picks that the Back Bay location didn't carry. I was disappointed, but the new Trader Joe's products I discovered — like these gyro slices — made up for it.

After I finished shopping, I joined the long line of customers waiting to check out.

Unlike Trader Joe’s locations, which have multiple lines to wait in, there’s only one queue here.

It leads to five different registers, and everyone had to wait for a cashier to call them over before they could check out.

I rang up my items at a small wooden desk.

The wall behind the register was full of reusable Trader Joe’s bags that were available for purchase.

Once I paid for my groceries, I headed back up the escalator to the street.

Although I hadn’t found everything on my list, I was content with my shopping experience. The new items were exciting, and I loved looking at the Boston-themed mural by the entrance.

Even though the store was cramped and felt a little chaotic when it was full of customers, I would visit it again. Next time, I’ll just plan to go earlier in the day to beat the rush of shoppers.