Trader Joe’s on 39th and Holgate
It never ceases to amaze me how happy everyone that works at Trader Joe’s is. It is almost creepy. Good, but creepy. There must be something to that.
Is it the atmosphere of a grocery store that makes these people so happy? No. Lots of grocery stores have less-than-one-hundred-percent-happy staffs. Although now that I think about it, even the Woodstock Safeway has a very happy and helpful staff, so is it something to do with grocery stores? Is it something to do with Portland? It makes me want to work in a grocery store here. Did I mention that the New Seasons 7 Corners staff is insanely happy as well.
Even the smaller markets here seem to radiate happiness, except when the two high school kids are working at the stand on 29th and where is that, Reedway? You know the one by the Eastmoreland Golf Club. Although it is not that the two kids are un-happy, I think they just get shy around me. I have boobs.
Anyway, I am going to investigate this more. I am convinced that there are some disgruntled grocery store employees here in Portland. Maybe I will try to get a part-time job at one of these magical happy stores, and see what makes them tick. Or is it all indoctrination? For TJ’s, I wouldn’t doubt it. I can also see the Whole Foods staff doing morning calisthenics (is that how that is spelled?) and singing a joyful song about the first of May. Anyway you spell it, I want some. In a re-usable bag, please.
Trader Joe’s, Portland, Oregon, Safeway, grocery stores, Eastmoreland Golf Club, New Seasons, Woodstock, Reedway, Whole Foods
February 7th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
go to deep southeast, rockwood. there are no happy clerks there. and most of them look like cranksters
May 27th, 2009 at 6:07 pm
There is a checker at the Fred Meyer on 39th and Hawthorne (the one being remodeled) who consistently, ALWAYS bitches about her job while checking out my groceries. She hasn’t gotten a break all day, she worked through her lunch hour, blah blah blah, mumbling the whole time. I just want to tell her the customers don’t give a shit, take it up with your boss, lady. Jeez.