Manhattan, NY (WPIX) – Trader Joe’s launched a grab-and-go concept in New York City called Trader Joe’s Pronto, opening a store directly next to an existing Trader Joe’s store near Union Square.
The new Pronto store currently occupies a space formerly occupied by a wine shop adjacent to the location, which closed in 2022 and drew complaints from a labor group.
“Trader Joe’s Pronto is an extension of our store in Union Square,” a spokesperson for Trader Joe’s confirmed to Nextstar. “This additional space allows us to carry more products that customers in this neighborhood purchase every day.”
The Pronto shop offers a selection of sandwiches, salads, yogurts, drinks and other ready-to-eat snacks, as seen in videos shared on social media.
A TikTok user who His visit is documented added that there were “basically no lines” at checkout, especially compared to the more traditional Trader Joe’s next door.
He also theorized that Trader Joe’s might be planning to open more Pronto locations in the near future, though the company has confirmed that won’t happen.
“We have no plans to open additional Trader Joe’s Pronto Markets in New York or anywhere else in the country,” a spokeswoman said.
The wine shop that formerly occupied the Pronto space closed abruptly on August 11, 2022, leaving New Yorkers confused as to why the affordable store closed its doors.
Shortly after its closure, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union Filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaint Against Trader Joe’s, the company claims it closed the store to prevent workers from unionizing. In response, the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). scheduled for hearing Complaints and the wine shop’s possible reopening later this year.
At the same location when the Pronto Shop opened, however, the UFCW issued another statement, calling the new store “A huge slap in the face.”
“We believe Trader Joe’s is doing everything in its power to prevent a profitable unionized store from reopening,” the statement read in part. “We refuse to let Trader Joe’s get away with their heinous and illegal union-busting tactics.”
