A Trader Joe's prank was pulled by a group of high school seniors from Northeast High School in their local town in Pasadena that everyone believed.
The prank involved a large yellow banner, complete with the Trader Joe's logo and a QR code, announcing the arrival of a new Trader Joe's store.
The incident quickly went viral after a citizen in the local area quickly turned to Facebook to spread the word of excitement. Marlena Calobong, commented that, when she saw the banner, it looked legit and believable.
Calobong, a health coach and self-proclaimed Trader Joe's enthusiast, was among those deceived. She discovered the banner on April 30, prominently displayed in a grassy area in the middle of a roadway in Pasadena, a small suburb north of Annapolis.
Eager to share the news, she posted about it on Facebook, hoping to inform her clients, who currently have to travel farther to reach the nearest Trader Joe's.
Trader Joe's Prank: Residents Realize They've Been Tricked
Calobong's excitement was short-lived. Her clients and followers quickly informed her that the banner was the work of Northeast High School's Class of 2024.
Taking the revelation in stride, she posted the following day, "To my Pasadena friends.... Yesterday the Senior class of our local high school pranked the ENTIRE town!"
Pasadena residents, initially thrilled by the prospect of a new Trader Joe's, soon caught on to the prank when they scanned the QR code on the banner.
Instead of leading to information about a new store, the code directed them to the infamous Rick Astley video, "Never Gonna Give You Up," a classic internet prank known as "Rick-Rolling."
Despite the disappointment of realizing there would be no new Trader Joe's, many residents couldn't help but admire the seniors' creativity.
Comments on social media ranged from commendations for the well-executed prank to nostalgic musings about how much fun they could have had with modern technology during their own school days.
Community Reacts to the Clever Prank
Christina Marie Schram, a local resident, commented on Calobong's post, "That is an awesome senior prank, not gonna lie."
Others, like Melisa Keeton, shared how the prank resonated with their families. Keeton wrote that his youngest son would appreciate this epic of a prank since she is used to getting rick-rolls from him a few times a week.
Even local realtor Alyssa Smith joined in, sharing her own post to let everyone know she had also been fooled.
"Well played, Northeast High School seniors. If you are a victim of the senior prank that Trader Joe's is coming to Pasadena, raise your hand," she wrote.
On TikTok, comments on the video poured in about being equally duped and excited about the supposed new store. Numerous users believed it was a great prank, and a lot almost believed it. Additionally, numerous people were even more sad that Trader Joe's would not open near their community.
@mrsalyssasmith Epic senior prank Maryland fam. #annearundelcounty #marylandtiktok #marylandgang #pasadena #seniorprank #traderjoes #thingstodoinmaryland ♬ Never Gonna Give You Up - yourmusic4ever
No Trader Joe's in the Near Future
While the prank was a resounding success, it also highlighted a genuine desire among Pasadena residents for a Trader Joe's store. Unfortunately, there are no immediate plans to open one in the area.
Trader Joe's spokesperson, Nakia Rohde, stated that although they do not have a location confirmed for Pasadena, the company is actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year.
Calobong, who lives between Annapolis and Pasadena, expressed her disappointment for her clients.
"Today, I did my grocery shopping at Trader Joe's in Annapolis. And so, it would have been nice for my clients that are in that Pasadena area because I always give them great ideas on how to shop on a budget. And it's mostly organic, so it's nice. I'm sure a lot of people are sad it's not true."
The prank may not have brought a new Trader Joe's to Pasadena, but it certainly left a lasting impression on the community, showcasing the creativity and spirit of Northeast High School's Class of 2024.
