Pop psychology suggests that humans will join any line they see, even if they don’t know what it’s for. Here’s a new theory: humans will join any line they see, especially if they saw what it’s for on TikTok. 

That was pretty much the case in San Antonio, as Trader Joe’s dropped limited-edition striped mini tote bags in pretty spring pastel hues. They first hit the three local stores on Wednesday, June 17, but sold out fast. Employees told MySA that about 500 people queued up at the Loop 1604 location, and the line at the Huebner Oaks location was so long it sparked incredulous reactions on social media. They were impossible to find at Basse Road. MySA headed out on Day 2 to see what the hype was about.

The line at the new Huebner Oaks location on Thursday morning was already stretching to Ross, more than 200 feet down the strip, an hour before the store opened at 9 a.m. It only got longer as the morning progressed. Teenagers, children, parents, men, women and all types of people could be spotted queuing for the limited-edition item, and many waited more than an hour for their turn.

On Thursday, store employees began handing out tickets to each person so that, when they reached the register to purchase up to eight totes, they would be able to prove they had waited in line. Wednesday morning was apparently more chaotic, with some shoppers saying they were just coming for groceries but instead grabbed a salad and made their way towards the totes. 

So what brings San Antonians out? One shopper told MySA in passing that she waited because the totes were cute and trending. Enough said — some people just want to be part of the action. Meanwhile, Lola Buentello told MySA she stood in line for about 30 minutes to score the bags for her mother because she’s an earlier riser.

“She wanted to give them out as gifts to all her friends,” Buentello said.

Roxie Robles, who works at Raising Cane’s, told MySA that she already got the first drop but came back because she uses the totes as her toddler’s diaper bags. Robles also said that she has a 19-year-old who’s obsessed with the bags. “Whatever we don’t use, they’re going to our family in Mexico,” she said. 

Find it: 11745 I-10 W, San Antonio, TX 78230; 403 N Loop 1604 W, San Antonio, TX 78232; 350 East Basse Road, San Antonio, TX 78209