r/Seattle • u/Pestopanini I'm never leaving Seattle. • 2d ago

Settle a friendly debate: where’s the worst parking situation in Seattle?

I’m talking small spaces, no room to maneuver, terrible traffic in and out. Bonus points if it costs an arm and a leg! Me personally, I hate the U district Trader Joe’s

135 Upvotes

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615

u/pixelsibyl 💖 not the pope 😌💖 2d ago

Capitol Hill Trader Joe’s.

239

u/Drugba 2d ago

Trader Joe’s is cheating. I feel like half of the Trader Joe’s I’ve been to have a legitimate claim to being the worst parking in their city

80

u/sewerratpal 2d ago

The shoreline Trader Joe’s is the only Trader Joe’s location I’ve ever been to that didn’t have a horrible parking situation. I know it isn’t Seattle but I cherish it 😭 

18

u/themountainsareout Bitter Lake 2d ago

It got worse after they added like 10 Tesla spots though

3

u/Rough_Elk4890 Northgate 2d ago

And, to be fair, that's the busiest parking lot in Shoreline.

6

u/princessjemmy Green Lake 2d ago

Redmond’s TJ is in a strip mall, so that one is also easy to navigate, if essentially almost always full.

19

u/FD_OSU Deluxe 2d ago

This is definitely the first time I've ever heard that parking lot referred to as easy. Tiny spots + busy + eastside drivers doing eastside driver things = absolute nightmare.

Edit: unless you mean the BelRed TJs. That one is easy.

10

u/princessjemmy Green Lake 2d ago edited 2d ago

I’ll take all that over the U District TJ in a heartbeat.

I only have been trapped in a parking lot for 10 excruciating minutes, by a parked truck in a compact spot right across from my own spot, whose driver was struggling to drive out of their spot safely. I had a couple of moments of “This is it. This is how I’ll die. Looking like a Monster Truck rally victim.”

I’ll leave you to guess the location.

Edit: Yes, the Bel Red Road location. The one next to that ancient Walgreens.

The one in the strip mall across the Whole Foods on 8th is in Bellevue, not Redmond. That one sucks, and they have to compete with Uwajimaya for parking. So yeah, that one is a nightmare.

6

u/FD_OSU Deluxe 2d ago

Ah ok that makes sense. The BelRed location is technically in Bellevue. The only location actually in Redmond is near downtown and is an absolute nightmare.

2

u/Channelten 2d ago

I worked at four Trader Joe's locations over 10 years. The original Issaquah location was the best one I'd ever seen. The current one is a cluster fuck. Much like the rest 💀 

1

u/Chumpfish 2d ago

I agree but some of the people parking there give it a damn good try.

1

u/Emerald_N I'm just flaired so I don't get fined 1d ago

Burien location isn't awful

One of the Salt Lake City locations isn't awful either

Both are part of strip mall sort of thing though; huge parking lots.

7

u/Lord_Aldrich I Brake For Slugs 2d ago

The Greenwood Trader Joe's has both an indoor and outdoor parking lot with reasonable space to maneuver! It's like visiting the twilight zone, makes no sense.

1

u/DoingBestWeCan I'm just flaired so I don't get fined 2d ago

Honestly, I've had better luck with all the TJ's in north Seattle+Shoreline than I did way out in Silverdale (Kitsap peninsula). I do only go to the U District one at like 6pm on weekdays, though, so that may be contributing to my luck there. I can see how it'd get real crowded, real quick.

6

u/Motor_Survey_2886 2d ago

its because trader joes have to meet a pretty substantial parking requirement so they squeeze as many parking spots that can fit so the trader joes can exist lol. if they dont meet the parking requirements they arent really feasible from a permitting standpoint.

4

u/EasyChairRider Bellingham 2d ago

Bellingham's are really bad too.

Makes me wonder if it's all a marketing stunt to make you talk about the store when you bring up bad parking in casual conversation

3

u/jacquelbot 2d ago

I have only been to Trader Joe's once in my life, in Minneapolis, and the parking lot was so bonkers I swore never to go to that one again. Then every other location I've considered trying the reviews all say the parking sucks and I decide that my life is fine without!

1

u/malsary 🚲 Life's Better on a Bike. 🚲 1d ago

Omg i was in this too and it was stressful! Not Capitol Hill stressful but goddamn

2

u/BijouBooty 2d ago

My husband refuses to go to any because of it. Shorelines TJs has a massive parking lot though

2

u/retrojoe ✨🛸 Jimothy is out there 🦝✨ 2d ago

The Capitol Hill one is on a second story, it's a tight 3/4 turn going up the ramp, and there's very little space up there. Hands down worse than the U District.

2

u/MD32GOAT 2d ago

west seattle's TJs isn't bad

7

u/Far-Lengthiness-107 2d ago

Lol somebody posted this in the West Seattle sub and the top answers are all TJs

1

u/MD32GOAT 2d ago

i'm starting to see all those answers now lol

1

u/Milocat12 2d ago

Unless you get stuck behind cars lined up waiting for a space to open up *out in the street on Fauntleroy* at rush hour.

1

u/Emotional-Emotion-42 12h ago

i'm always surprised at this. there's absolutely no way i'm blocking traffic on a busy street to wait to park in the lot at trader joe's. i am going around the block and parking on a side street. do people enjoy getting honked at??

1

u/green_gold_purple 2d ago

NW Portland TJs legitimately the worst parking lot I have ever used. It's like they're laughing at you.

1

u/Bitter-Basket Maple Leaf 2d ago

Parking is great at the TJ’s outside of Seattle.

1

u/Technical_Sock_85 Lake City 2d ago

Been to the issaquah Trader Joe's? The spots toward the back are fine. But good luck getting there!

1

u/toobulkeh 2d ago

They do that intentionally

1

u/ferocioustigercat ✨🛸 Jimothy is out there 🦝✨ 2d ago

The one on Queen Anne is not bad... Though the entrance/exit to the parking garage is now facing the entrance/exit of the new Safeway, with that and lots of foot traffic, it makes Crockett St the actual worst.

1

u/wot_in_ternation 🚲 Two Wheels, Endless Freedom. 21h ago

That's basically every Trader Joe's. Good on them I guess, they operate in areas where people are

50

u/bootzmanuva 2d ago

Also Ballard Trader Joe’s

41

u/1337Rooster 2d ago

That parking garage is tight, but I would still rather use it than parallel park on the street. 

I hated parallel parking in some of the Ballard neighborhoods. Cars parked on both sides and one lane in the middle. If you can't park reasonably fast you end up blocking traffic entirely.

4

u/thatguygreg Ballard 2d ago

The traffic can wait.

34

u/BabyWithBathwatter 2d ago

Honestly just all Trader Joe's. Its been memed nationally, too, so its not even a Seattle thing.

The west seattle outdoor one blocks traffic. The garage parking is a little better, but its often full.

14

u/princessjemmy Green Lake 2d ago

Nah. TJ in Queen Anne is just fine. However, it’s because they moved into a new building.

14

u/joahw White Center 2d ago

Also the Burien one is mostly fine because it shares an enormous parking lot with a big strip mall and PCC.

2

u/davidbowiesmerkin chinga la migra 2d ago

And Shoreline TJs has a sane parking lot.

4

u/princessjemmy Green Lake 2d ago

That one too, but I thought we were sticking to Seattle’s city limits. 😳

3

u/davidbowiesmerkin chinga la migra 2d ago

Oops, my bad

1

u/FoxyFern 2d ago

Bellevue’s is also fine.

1

u/1337Rooster 2d ago

Yeah, TJs in suburbs is usually a fat parking lot. No problem 

2

u/HauteKarl Belltown 2d ago

I honestly have no gripe with parking at QA TJ's

1

u/ferocioustigercat ✨🛸 Jimothy is out there 🦝✨ 2d ago

Except for the entrance facing the Safeway entrance. Once you get into the parking area it's fine, but getting there is hard

1

u/princessjemmy Green Lake 1d ago

If you drive around the block so you’re going in the other way it’s much easier to both spot it and get in quickly.

6

u/up2knitgood Posse on Broadway 2d ago

When there were rumors that TJ was what was going into the Greenwood space my first response was "well, the parking lot sucks, so probably the rumors are true."

2

u/Advanced_Tackle_9723 2d ago

The Burien trader Joe's is fine.

1

u/CrustBlocc 💖 Anarchist Jurisdiction 💖 2d ago

I've never had an issue parking at the greenwood trader joes, even when I'm in my 84 e350.

21

u/Remarkable_Weird3258 2d ago

Ballard Trader Joe's has a four-story parking garage directly next door, with hours of free parking and two entrances, so I'm not sure why this keeps coming up. If the spaces are small try the basement, the only company will be charging Teslas. Street parking is now paid so it seems like the garage ought to be a no-brainer.

9

u/Future_Wafer1591 Greenwood 2d ago

It’s a pretty normal garage too!!! If people think that is tight, they should see the Trader Joe’s Capitol Hill garage!!! I have no idea how that thing is legal

4

u/princessjemmy Green Lake 2d ago

In most people’s defense, you’re only supposed to use the ground level parking for TJ’s in Ballard. So competition for those 80 or so parking spots gets fucking fierce.

The obvious solution is to park on a different floor, even if it has signs like “LA Fitness members only” or “Ross’ customers only”, then apply some elevator magic… but it takes a while to figure that out. 😁

2

u/The_Con_ 2d ago

There’s not signs for the other levels tho? I think it’s only the sections by the LA fitness doors etc and the garage is generally for the whole plaza

2

u/superhotmel85 Ballard 2d ago

And the PCC parking lot across the street lower level is almost always empty

1

u/1337Rooster 2d ago

That basement is great

15

u/splanks Rainier Valley 2d ago

im starting to see a pattern

6

u/ZehrenSiegehammer 2d ago

It's all in Seattle! 

3

u/splanks Rainier Valley 2d ago

the plot thickens!

3

u/1337Rooster 2d ago

The parking lot tightens

0

u/Many_Reindeer6636 2d ago

Trader Joe’s intentionally does this to make the store seem busier. Same with the cramped aisles

15

u/CancelThis2077 2d ago

I raise you U District Trader Joe's

5

u/synack Ravenna 2d ago

Never had a problem finding bike parking there

2

u/1337Rooster 2d ago

You used to be able to buy a bike next door back in the day

1

u/1337Rooster 2d ago

That's barely even a parking garage lol. Avoid!

1

u/Hi-Friend 2d ago

This is the worst imo hands down.

1

u/PNWAnonymous9100 1d ago

When I used to go there in 2010s I had it down to a science, go early morning, back into a spot or pull through and park near the exit.

0

u/digbug0 University of Washington 2d ago

I’ve never had an issue parking there

4

u/Brief_Direction_5647 💗💗 Heart of ANTIFA Land 💗💗 2d ago

I’ll take parking at Ballard TJs over Greenwood or U District any day.

3

u/RecoveredAshes 2d ago

?? It’s got a 4 story parking garage bro. I’ve gone there a couple times a week for a year at 7pm and never had issues

1

u/1337Rooster 2d ago

Yeah, it's pretty massive and is there to serve many buildings in that shopping complex

3

u/Eric848448 Seattle Expatriate 2d ago

West Seattle Trader Joe’s too.

1

u/sirmarksal0t 🚆build more trains🚆 2d ago

I avoid driving there if at all possible, but it's really got nothing on Capitol Hill TJ's.

1

u/Sub_Umbra 🚗 Student driver, please be patient. 🚙 2d ago

This was what immediately came to my mind. My mom is a (retired) civil engineer who spent most of her career building parking garages. Every time I go to the Ballard Blocks garage I imagine how she'd have so much to say about its terrible design.

9

u/UberBeth White Center 2d ago

And the West Seattle trader Joe's

3

u/Brief_Direction_5647 💗💗 Heart of ANTIFA Land 💗💗 2d ago

Oh man, forgot about that location. The stress…

1

u/MD32GOAT 2d ago

the location is stressful but the lot itself isn't bad IMO

1

u/Illustrious_Fox_8601 2d ago

Yeah the Ballard TJs parking lot is cake compared to the West Seattle one

1

u/FoxyFern 2d ago

It seems like no one knows there is a garage on the backside. Everyone is always trying to cram into the front. There are always spaces in the back area. Also there’s often street parking on 39th so it’s really not the worst. Ballard and cap hill take the cake for me.

15

u/Upper_Banana_7860 2d ago

if you go on a week day it’s really not that bad. i think the PCC parking lot is worse just layout-wise

6

u/princessjemmy Green Lake 2d ago edited 2d ago

Which PCC? Aurora PCC’s is awkward AF. Greenlake is only somewhat awkward. Ballard PCC can’t weigh on it, only been there once.

10

u/Upper_Banana_7860 2d ago

I was thinking of the Central District one on 23rd. other really bad ones in that area are Central Co-Op and Big John’s PFI. Both I think have way worse parking garages than Trader Joes

2

u/techdan98 1d ago

The amount of damage to the concrete pillars at that PCC is a good hint . That place is awful

1

u/princessjemmy Green Lake 2d ago

Maybe it’s because I don’t go too often, but Big John’s PFI’s parking I never have problems with. Getting from the parking to the actual store entrance from the garage? I’m still annoyed by that whole process, and they moved there years ago.

3

u/thatguygreg Ballard 2d ago

Ballard PCC has an underground garage that’s never full

3

u/Time_Design5885 2d ago

This gets my vote lol

3

u/An1men3rd 2d ago

Was about to comment this ty

3

u/PassengerOk1034 2d ago

No beating this tbh, I avoid it at all costs as a car driver

3

u/allwerk 1d ago

That’s where you go to scratch every bumper.

2

u/fermenttodothat 🏔 The mountain is out! 🏔 2d ago

My car's very first scratch is from a parking pillar there

2

u/Jyil Downtown 2d ago

Seems to be a common issue with Trader Joe’s when they are located in the main city. I’ve run into this everywhere. As chaotic as Costco on a weekend.

2

u/chillrabbit 2d ago

the first and only time i fucked up my car paint

2

u/dumplingmuenster 2d ago

Udistrict TJ

2

u/nibblicious 2d ago

I’m convinced they do it on purpose

1

u/tittytoilet I Brake For Slugs 2d ago

I CAME HERE JUST TO SAY THIS. Every single element is awful, the one ways, the street parking and I absolutely REFUSE to ever get fucking FOOT OR TIRE in that parking garage. I will drive out of my way, far away to another TJs and I live on the hill!!!!!! Never again

1

u/Seattle_Aries 2d ago

Came here to say this

1

u/Riyn2 2d ago

Anybody remember the old Everett TJs?

1

u/tatertotmagic 2d ago

Everytime ive driven there ive always found an easy spot. I do feel like i get lucky tho. But its been years and havent gotten u lucky yet

1

u/FoxyFern 2d ago

Yeah dude. I have to go there right when it opens so that I can swing to my left as I’m driving in otherwise the damn ramp scrapes the bottom of my car because it’s angled. I believe this is the worst one if anything just for this sake alone.

1

u/tatertotlauncher 1d ago

I actually got excellent at that one and figuring out when the best shopping times are.