https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0XhZEE_0qP6XII400 — TJ Maxx.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I visited two TJ Maxx locations in New York: one in the suburbs of Long Island and one in Manhattan.
I was expecting to prefer the suburban location, but I liked the selection better in Manhattan.
However, both required some patience to sift through and find the hidden gems.

TJ Maxx is one of the most popular off-price (or discounted) retail chains in the US, with over 1,000 stores across the US and Canada.

The first two TJ Maxx locations opened in Massachusetts in 1977, according to the company's timeline. Since then, its parent company, TJX, has launched HomeGoods , TK Maxx (its European equivalent), and Homesense, and acquired Marshalls, Winners Apparel, Bob's Stores, and Sierra Trading Post.

Sometimes, a shopping experience will differ drastically between an urban location and a suburban location, from prices to products, and I wanted to see if the same could be said of TJ Maxx. I decided to visit a location in the suburbs of Long Island, New York, and compare it to a store in Manhattan.

Here's what I thought.

My first stop was a TJ Maxx in Massapequa on Long Island, New York. The hamlet is around 40 miles east of Manhattan.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1O4qcN_0qP6XII400 — TJ Maxx in Massapequa.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

There are TJ Maxx stores across Long Island, from the edge of Queens all the way out to the Hamptons.

I chose this one in Massapequa because it's the closest to my hometown, and I've been to it a few times in my life, though not recently.

I was expecting to prefer this suburban location over the city store, because it's a common belief that suburban stores have cheaper prices and are larger, but that might be a misconception .

I'd estimate that this location, which is spread across one floor, is around the size of a large supermarket.

The first section I saw when I walked inside was the luggage area.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3LmUMn_0qP6XII400 — Suitcases at TJ Maxx.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I've seen plenty of TikToks about how TJ Maxx is the best place to get discounted luggage from popular brands.

While this location did have luggage from name brands like Delsey ($99.99), Samsonite ($99.99), and Calpak (which didn't have a price tag), the selection itself — which took up two aisles of a giant store — seemed limited to me.

Next to the luggage were bags and purses.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3V119V_0qP6XII400 — Purses and bags at TJ Maxx.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I'd ever seen so many in one place before.

In my experience, TJ Maxx is a mishmash of everything you could ever want. After I left the luggage section, I came across this display of reading glasses.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=38fCKC_0qP6XII400 — Glasses at TJ Maxx.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

This Nicole Miller set of two was priced at $9.99. I would later come across the same set at the Manhattan location, where they cost the same.

Tables spread throughout the Long Island location appeared to hold items that loosely fit into themes, like this table of $25 winter accessories.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=15GZoB_0qP6XII400 — Winter accessories.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

This was one of the first tables I saw, and it should have prepared me for how disorganized things were going to get.

But the main event, of course, was the clothes. The store famously carries brand-name clothing for lower prices.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=15FNHe_0qP6XII400 — The clothing racks at TJ Maxx.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The racks seemed to stretch for miles.

I had hoped the items would be organized by color or types of clothes, but that wasn't the case. To me, it just seemed a mess.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Fu4Ad_0qP6XII400 — Clothing racks.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

There were sweaters, blouses, T-shirts, and more in this one rack, and they were of all sizes.

I often get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of clothes available at stores like TJ Maxx and Marshalls, and this visit was no different.

I swerved around the overwhelming clothing section. A table filled with hair accessories caught my eye.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4MNnRb_0qP6XII400 — The Single Shot.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I've been on the hunt for a blow-dryer brush like this, though I wasn't willing to spend $599 on the Dyson equivalent .

This brush retails for anywhere between $93 and $108 online, but at TJ Maxx it cost $79.99. I snapped it up immediately.

While I was pleased to find the Drybar blow-dryer brush, some of the other products I saw were in less-than-ideal condition.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0cWCha_0qP6XII400 — A waver with some sort of goo.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

This hair waver had some sticky residue on the packaging.

A spinning shelf nearby was filled with holiday soaps for under $10.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1Ejbjv_0qP6XII400 — Holiday soaps.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

In describing my experience, it might seem like I'm jumping from section to section — without any discernible link between them — but that's what shopping at TJ Maxx felt like. Everywhere I looked, there was something else that caught my eye.

The other biggest section in the store was the beauty section.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2t5S7r_0qP6XII400 — The beauty section.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

An entire corner of the store was dedicated to beauty and haircare.

The haircare section did not seem to have any sort of organizing principle.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=48P8E1_0qP6XII400 — The haircare section.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I could see myself digging through these shelves for hours to find the best products.

The makeup palettes were haphazardly stacked together.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3YFjMq_0qP6XII400 — Makeup palettes.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

It was almost like Jenga.

However, it was interesting to see some fun movie-themed palettes, like these ones from "The Matrix" and "The Grinch."

Some had even been opened and then put back.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0yW0T9_0qP6XII400 — An opened makeup palette.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I get it — you want to get a good look at the makeup you might buy, and there were no samples to look at. But it's not great imagining that someone has picked over your eyeshadow.

TJ Maxx has not responded to Business Insider's request for comment on its displays at this store.

I made my way over to the shoe section which, frankly, was paltry in my opinion.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ZwYJ6_0qP6XII400 — The shoe section.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

It was mainly sneakers or neutral-colored booties. I was also surprised that I only recognized Nike among the brands.

The middle of the store was dedicated to Christmas.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0HN74w_0qP6XII400 — Christmas decorations.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

These tables were filled with wrapping paper ($3.99) and various gift sets.

A nearby section was dedicated to decorative Christmas trees and gingerbread houses.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1l6n9h_0qP6XII400 — Gingerbread houses and Christmas trees.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I've never seen so many.

Pets couldn't be left out of the holiday fun, of course, and I saw a wide selection of holiday sweaters for dogs.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4MGyfl_0qP6XII400 — Dog holiday sweaters.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

These were pretty cute.

There was also a small Hanukkah section.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=19npj0_0qP6XII400 — The Hanukkah section at TJ Maxx.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

It was nothing compared to the Christmas section, but it was still nice to see an acknowledgment of other holidays.

The cookware was nearby. If I was in need of any, I'd come to TJ Maxx first.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=46qdsw_0qP6XII400 — Pots and pans.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Nearby, I also saw kitchen appliances and cookware, like a Nespresso machine for $159.99, which is $5 cheaper than on Amazon.

There were water bottles and travel mugs scattered throughout the store.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1EEvwz_0qP6XII400 — Water bottles and travel mugs.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I spotted a Hydro Flask for $29.99. Normally, they're at least $30.

There weren't any Stanley cups, but I saw rows of dupes by Hydrapeak.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3xmr5G_0qP6XII400 — HydraPeak dupes.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

They were priced at $24.99. Stanleys are usually at least $35.

As I walked around, I noticed that many of the displays were messy.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0E45P8_0qP6XII400 — A mess.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

There were boxes everywhere. Some of that can be attributed to the holiday season, I'm sure, but it wasn't the most aesthetically pleasing shopping experience.

After a somewhat underwhelming experience in the suburbs, I visited TJ Maxx on 59th Street in Manhattan to see how the stores compared.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0GWAG4_0qP6XII400 — The 59th Street TJ Maxx.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

This TJ Maxx, which is next to a Trader Joe's, is spread across two floors: a ground-floor level and a basement level.

The ground floor is just two sections: luggage and beauty. Everything else — plus more beauty — is downstairs.

Just like on Long Island, the first thing I saw was luggage.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3hES0j_0qP6XII400 — Luggage section.
Gabbi Shaw/Insider

It was largely similar — I found the same Calpak suitcase, although this time with a price tag ($99.99). Online they can be over $200.

Conveniently, luggage accessories were nearby.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3i69wc_0qP6XII400 — Luggage accessories.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

There were luggage tags, travel blankets, and more.

It was very intuitive to have these things together, unlike the randomness I experienced at the Long Island location.

Next to the luggage was the bag section, which was perfectly color-coordinated.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Qd886_0qP6XII400 — The bag section.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I noticed a Michael Kors purse for $59.99.

I continued to explore the ground floor before going downstairs. Like the bags, the haircare section was way more organized in the city.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0r8KAd_0qP6XII400 — Haircare.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I couldn't tell you if the selection was the same, because it was impossible to go through it all on Long Island.

It turned out that color coordination was a big thing in this store.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4DtqmL_0qP6XII400 — Bath and body.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

In addition, the shelves weren't over-crowded with items, so I could see everything.

The Manhattan location had the same blow-dryer brush for the same price, but this one was locked behind glass.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3dCfP5_0qP6XII400 — A blow-dryer brush behind glass.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

It's becoming more common to see things locked behind glass as shoplifting increases in New York City, according to a November 2023 study by the Council on Criminal Justice.

However, even though haircare was better organized in this store, the makeup was just as messy as it had been in the suburbs.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=42pPYd_0qP6XII400 — Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

This blush had been broken and made a mess all over the display.

After getting the blush dust off my hands, I headed downstairs.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1AnhiB_0qP6XII400 — The basement level.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The basement level was where most of the inventory was, including clothes, housewares, kitchen items, electronics, jewelry, the registers, and more.

It was around twice the size of the ground floor.

There weren't many holiday decorations in this store, but there were tables of gift sets and boxes.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0536Rq_0qP6XII400 — Gift boxes.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Much like the Long Island location, there were tables filled with items. But these tables were bigger, making it easier to see what was available.

In fact, there was more Valentine's Day decor than Christmas decor.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=17lLf0_0qP6XII400 — Valentine's Day goodies.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I didn't see anything for Hanukkah.

I was immediately drawn to these heart-shaped dishes.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Jr7ob_0qP6XII400 — Heart-shaped dishes.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I didn't see any of those on Long Island.

I spotted the same Nespresso machine — for the same price — that I had seen on Long Island.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2lRTpQ_0qP6XII400 — The Nespresso.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Someone had stacked other things on top, but there it was.

But while this store was superior in many ways, I thought the clothing section was comparable — if not slightly worse — than Long Island's.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0BVB8G_0qP6XII400 — The clothing section.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

It was more crammed in at the city location, but I thought the level of disorganization was the same.

But the shoe section was much better. I spotted Hunter rain boots ...

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2dXn1i_0qP6XII400 — Hunter rain boots.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I couldn't get a good look at the price of these.

... Crocs snow boots ...

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2TmUdd_0qP6XII400 — Crocs.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

These boots were $24.99. They are sold out on the Crocs' online store, where they were originally around $75.

... and Reebok sneakers.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3Eg2yb_0qP6XII400 — Reeboks.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

Paying $39.99 for almost any sneaker would be a good deal, but Reeboks can set you back $75.

The city location had a similar selection of water bottles and mugs.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1ThhHg_0qP6XII400 — Water bottles.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

The Hydrapeaks were the same price.

Overall, I found both TJ Maxx locations to be disorganized to varying degrees but filled with good deals. I preferred the city location for its inventory, but I'd shop at either one in the future.

https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4ZoB0n_0qP6XII400 — TJ Maxx.
Gabbi Shaw/Business Insider

I was surprised to find the prices at both locations were the same, as I expected items to be more expensive in the city. Without lower prices in the suburbs, I don't think there's any reason for urban residents to make the journey to a suburban TJ Maxx.

I also preferred the inventory at the Manhattan location; there were more recognizable brands and it was more organized than its suburban counterpart.

However, overall, I spotted some great items and deals, and I'll definitely be adding TJ Maxx to my regular shopping rotation.

Read the original article on Business Insider