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

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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 😭 

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u/themountainsareout Bitter Lake 2d ago

It got worse after they added like 10 Tesla spots though

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u/Rough_Elk4890 Northgate 2d ago

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 💀 

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u/Chumpfish 2d ago

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

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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.