Even though Presidents Day, which this year falls on Monday, February 16, isn’t associated with cultural celebrations such as parades, fireworks, or barbeques, you may be taking advantage of the day off of work — if you’re lucky enough to have a day off — and planning a dinner, or using the bonus day to get errands like grocery shopping done.

Trader Joe’s is where a growing number of Americans are doing more of their shopping, and it has an enviable fan base.

In the 2025 American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) survey, Trader Joe’s (and Publix) earned the top of its rankings, based on feedback from over 41,000 shoppers. 

One reason for its popularity is that Trader Joe’s delivers on affordability.

Even though inflation cooled a bit in January, rising just 2.4% on an annual basis in January 2026, staples like ground beef and coffee remain a red flag, rising 17.2% and 18.3%, respectively, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the other hand, egg prices — which were up considerably last year — continue to drop and are down more than 34% from a year ago. 

Trader Joe’s budget-friendly private-label products continue to make it a go-to option for shoppers trying to manage budgets during this period of economic uncertainty.

Good news for budget shoppers: Trader Joe’s is open on Presidents Day.

The official name for the February holiday is Washington’s Birthday, not Presidents Day.

Photo by flySnow on Getty Images

Presidents Day: a brief history

While banks, schools, and government offices tend to be closed on Presidents Day, retailers including Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and Costco operate on their normal schedules.

In fact, Presidents Day is a well-known holiday for retail sales, especially mattresses and home goods.

Some states still refer to the holiday in February as Washington’s Birthday, since it originally celebrated the first American president, whose birthday was February 22. The celebration evolved to include Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday was February 12.

Congress has never officially changed the name, according to the National Archives; retailers unofficially dubbed the holiday Presidents Day, and it stuck.

Trader Joe’s is growing rapidly

If you don’t happen to have a Trader Joe’s in your neighborhood this Presidents Day holiday, there is a chance next year might be a different story. The retailer has shared that it will open at least eight new stores so far in 2026, and that number is likely to grow, if the past is any indication.

In 2025, more than 20 American neighborhoods got a new Trader Joe’s. While that was fewer than the 34 the retailer opened in 2024, it’s still more than one new store each month.

Last year, the retailer also announced it is making moves to expand its operations in New York and the surrounding areas.

The privately held chain entered into a contract to acquire a 66-acre parcel of land in Islandia, located in Suffolk County, according to a report from Long Island Business News.

One reason for the new stores and the new distribution center may be that Trader Joe’s and its sister grocery store Aldi increased their hold on consumers in 2025. According to data from Placer.ai, fewer customers are visiting a competitor right before or right after visiting a Trader Joe’s or an Aldi.

The data suggest that although Trader Joe’s was historically a supplemental retailer where people shopped for specific items such as chips, dips, and frozen snacks, it is increasingly becoming their primary grocery store.  

Related: Is Costco open on Presidents Day?