Emily Mester examines what happens when consumption begins to consume you. Journalist Ada Tseng visits Costco twice a week for gas, deals, and hidden Asian treasures. Benjamin Lorr explores how the sliding doors at American grocery stores stay open. Patty Civalleri tells us about the man who created Trader Joe's, which started in Pasadena in 1967. Gustavo Arellano recalls the legacy of Frieda Caplan, who introduced Angelenos to all sorts of exotic produce. LA transplant Vanessa Anderson, aka The Grocery Goblin on Tiktok, documents the city by visiting its markets.
Buying in bulk, Trader Joe's, Costco
"We don't all watch the same TV shows anymore, we don't all listen to the same music, but we do, a lot of us at least, shop at the same handful of stores," says essayist Emily Mester. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.
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