Is Trader Joe’s causing heavy traffic in Myrtle Beach area? What officials say
The Myrtle Beach area’s first Trader Joe’s grocery store has drawn excitement since it’s opening in September — and with it came a spike in traffic.
The new Trader Joe’s at 115 Sayebrook Parkway held its grand opening on Sept. 30, drawing a long line of customers eager to get their hands on the store’s signature items. But the store entrance isn’t the only place people are waiting. On surrounding roads such as the intersection of Highway 544 and U.S. 17 vehicle traffic has been heavier than usual — but customers say it’s getting better.
Janet Mendez lives in the area and has shopped at Trader Joe’s stores before, but Sunday afternoon was her first foray into the Myrtle Beach location. Walking out of the store with bags of Trader Joe’s goods, Mendez told The Sun News she hadn’t had trouble with traffic, and was even able to get a parking spot close to the entrance .
Similarly, Ray Ruiz and Bianca Colin were surprised to find that, though the parking lot was busy, the flow of spots being vacated allowed them to park without much wait. Before heading to the store for the first time on Sunday, Ruiz said he thought traffic would be difficult, but found that cars kept moving.
Ruiz and Colin live about 15 minutes away from the store, and said they regularly shop at the nearby Target. The pair said they noticed an increase in traffic since the new store’s opening, but that it has calmed down.
“It’s calming down a little bit, but definitely still busy,” Ruiz said.
Colin added that the inside of the store itself was also “pretty packed” despite being open for over two weeks.
From inside the building, store Captain — otherwise known as store manager — MaryJoy Marino said she hasn’t heard any traffic complaints. She said she’s seen customers able to get in ant out of the store easily, and the nearby intersection hasn’t experienced any major issues.
Marino added that she’s thankful for the store’s “decent-sized parking lot,” which has been able to handle the steady flow of customers.
Traffic control implemented for Myrtle Beach area Trader Joe’s
Traffic was anticipated long before the store’s opening, and officials say that planning and traffic control measures were adopted ahead of the crowds.
The side street next to the Trader Joe’s is a private road, and the store’s developer and property owner added several turn lanes there to improve the flow of cars, according to Horry County spokesperson Mikayla Moskov. There are also ways out of the Trader Joe’s vicinity near the back of the store, via Sheffield Parkway to U.S. 17, Highway 544 and Palmetto Pointe Boulevard, Moskov added.
“We would expect traffic to be briefly heightened whenever a new business or attraction opens,” Moskov wrote in a message to The Sun News. “That said, we have not received reports of any significant or lengthy issues since opening day.”
The traffic signal closest to the store, where Sayebrook intersects with Highway 544, is managed by the South Carolina Department of Transportation. In addition to added turn lanes approaching the Sayebrook Parkway intersection with Highway 544 to help with congestion, traffic signals at the intersection were modified to accommodate the new lanes and traffic, SCDOT spokesperson Hannah Robinson said in an email to The Sun News.
This story was originally published October 20, 2025 at 6:04 AM.
