Story and photo by Noah Kuhn
Associate News Editor
South Pasadena’s Trader Joe’s on Mission Street is closed temporarily for cleaning until Wednesday, Apr. 15. The store closed on Sunday, Apr. 12 as several Crew Members tested positive for the coronavirus.
The Crew Members who tested positive were last working in the store on Monday, Apr. 6. During the closure, Trader Joe’s will continue to pay all Crew Members for scheduled shifts.
“There is nothing more important to us than the health and safety of our Crew Members and customers,” Trader Joe’s said in its Apr. 13 update. “We have made sure all Crew Members at the respective locations have been informed and understand the steps to take to best safeguard their own health and the health of their community.”
Trader Joe’s has abided by L.A. County and the City of South Pasadena’s social distancing measures, keeping customers in a spaced-out line outside before entering systematically.
“It’s been really busy. We’re working extra hours and all the employees are very tired. Everyone went into ‘save Trader Joe’s mode,’” an anonymous Trader Joe’s employee said during the beginning of the outbreak’s hysteria in March.
This is an ongoing story. All local coronavirus updates can be found here.
