Trader Joe’s to Open 12 New Stores: Is Illinois on the List?

With over 597 locations in the United States, Trader Joe's just announced 12 new locations opening around the country.  Will Illinois get more?

If you've never been to a Trader Joe's and wonder what all the hype is about when people rave about it, I'll give you five reasons you need to find one near you.

5 Reasons People Are Obsessed With Trader Joe's

• They carry private labeled products
• Known for having the friendliest staff
• Exclusive "Trade Joe's" products
• Reasonable prices
• Free samples... on everything

The free samples probably caught your eye.  I found out that you can ask to sample anything in the store, with a few limitations.

"The “Try Anything” policy applies to almost anything—except for alcoholic drinks and frozen food. Most ready-to-eat foods are fair game." [realsimple]

There are many Trade Joe's locations around Illinois, but none in Rockford yet.  The closest would be Algonquin, Chicago, Schaumburg, and Arlington Heights.  Find one near you here!

They just announced 12 new locations opening around the US, and here's where.

Alabama

• 1771 Montgomery Hwy., Hoover

California

• 9224 Reseda Blvd., Northridge
• 14140 Riverside Dr., Sherman Oaks
• 18700 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana

District of Columbia

• 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW
• 701 Monroe St. NE

Maryland

• 225 N Washington St., Rockville

New York

• 6400 Amboy Rd., Staten Island

Pennsylvania

• 550 Lancaster Ave., Berwyn

Tennessee

• 2305 Medical Center Parkway, Murfreesboro

Washington

• 8726 Greenwood Ave., Seattle
• 4255 Meridian St., Suite 200, Bellingham

Nope, Rockford didn't make the list and nowhere else in Illinois either.  But let's stay hopeful that more locations are announced.  Illinois needs more affordable grocery stores!