Northfield is small. With a population hovering around 20,000 — college students included — our dining and shopping options reflect the small town reality. Sure, we have a Target, a Culver’s, a McDonald’s, a Taco Bell, and a handful of other things. But we don’t even have a Walmart or a Starbucks that is outside of a grocery store. The local shops down Division Street and beyond are great! It’s important to shop small and support these businesses. Plus, visiting families love their unique appeal. But as students, we need some familiar favorites to spice up our small town lives. 

So yes, Northfield is missing a lot. But there is one absence that stands out above the rest, a must-have for every college town. If this business opened tomorrow, the line would be out the door. Every St. Olaf and Carleton student would quit their current job to work there. The economy would boom, and the vibe of this place would fit in with the friendly Midwestern town vibe impeccably. 

Trader Joe’s. 

There’s a reason some people treat Trader Joe’s like a personality trait — it’s the best grocery store. I would love nothing more than to bask in their fresh produce, health foods, sweet treats, frozen meals, and trending cuisines five minutes away from campus. Their curated collection cuts down on decision fatigue, and the prices won’t make you spiral. It has the soul of a co-op and the accessibility of a chain. A retired professor and broke sophomore alike can shop simultaneously and leave happy. 

I have filled out the “Request a Trader Joe’s” form on their website more than once, practically begging them to set up shop in Northfield. Apparently 20,000 people and an unquantifiable amount of desperation isn’t enough for them. 

So this is my official pitch for you all to fill out the form, too. Send it to your Carleton friends, and everyone else you know. There is strength in numbers…

Request a Trader Joe’s here.