During a visit to one of the busiest Trader Joe’s in America on Monday, November 10, at 2073 Broadway between West 71st and 72nd streets, ILTUWS noticed that the men’s and women’s restrooms on the basement level now had a new doorway installed, blocking access to both, with a sign reading “Not an Exit.”
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Upon closer inspection, ILTUWS observed that the door was equipped with a punch code keypad, similar to those in some fast food restaurants, where a code is typically printed on your receipt for restroom access. A security guard was standing nearby, and when asked about bathroom access, we were told, “It’s now for employees only.”ILTUWS also spoke with Alma at the captain’s (manager’s) booth by the registers, who confirmed that the bathrooms are now for Trader Joe’s employees only and will not be changing back.
Janice, who declined to give her last name, laughed while describing her bathroom emergency at the store. “Listen, I don’t do this often, but when you gotta go, you gotta go,” she quipped. “That took my mind off it for a second. I’ll be okay, but it’s an inconvenience.”
We informed Janice about the Got2GoNYC portal, which includes an updated map of all public restrooms in NYC maintained by users. The platform was founded by Theodora Siegel, who in 2023 wrote an op-ed for the New York Times titled “If New York Is So Great, Why Isn’t There Anywhere to Pee?”
“In the middle of Times Square in July 2021, I sipped the last of my iced coffee and realized I had to go. After being turned away from several businesses, I burst into a McDonald’s and was told the bathroom was for customers only,” wrote Siegel. She ended up paying $3 for a bottle of water before rushing up a flight of stairs, only to find the door unlocked. “I could have just gone in and used the toilet without having to buy that overpriced water.” This moment, shared on social media, went viral, and by the next day her comments section was filled with public restroom suggestions. Siegel says, “The struggle to find an accessible bathroom is a public health issue — one that is a direct product of decades of neglect and failed infrastructure projects.” Siegel spoke with Mayor Adams in 2024 to launch the “Ur in Luck” campaign, aimed at making NYC restrooms more accessible and equitable.
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Even in the Upper West Side’s all-time favorite sitcom, Seinfeld, George Costanza displays his public restroom expertise, asking Jerry to give him cross streets and promising he can point out the best nearby restroom. When Jerry says, “65th and 10th” in the Season Two episode “The Busboy,” Costanza replies, “Are you kidding? Lincoln Center, Alice Tully Hall, the Met.” That was decades ago, and public restroom access has continued to tighten, with places like Starbucks and Magnolia removing their restrooms during recent renovations.A Reddit thread on the matter was also created on November 10. “The Bloomingdale’s across the street has a bathroom at the basement level!” one commenter wrote, offering advice for those who might need help when nature calls. Another wrote, “Pottery Barn, West Elm, Morton’s have public clean bathrooms nearby.”
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