Is Trader Joe's really closing all its stores?

By: Oscar Contreras, TheDenverChannel.com Team, 10News Digital Team

It's a rare feeling when you finally understand the hysteria people must have felt in the late 1930s as they listened to a supposed alien invasion taking place across the nation from the comfort of their own homes.

While it's no Orson Welles radio drama, the fear and mass distress expressed by many on social media when they learned that Trader Joe's would be closing all stores by 2017, might as well just be the equivalent of what listeners felt that fateful Halloween night.

Twitter's collective anxiety started with an article published on Yahoo! News early Thursday. In it, Trader Joe's announced all 457 of their locations would be closing down due to "financial problems" and the rise of stiff competition from new organic food stores (thanks, hipsters).

Turns out, the article was just an early April Fool's joke. But many on the Twittersphere were unaware. Here are their reactions:

NOT A COOL APRIL FOOLS DAY JOKE #TRADERJOES. Toying with people's emotions like that. #shameonyou pic.twitter.com/qzpSsiGVxy
— Jackson Reynolds (@jackreynolds_jr) April 1, 2016

Scariest April Fool's joke ever @YahooNews . I don't even want to imagine a life without #TraderJoes. pic.twitter.com/jtHDOpRdE9
— l-e-i-a (@lleiayoonn) April 1, 2016

Newsflash: April Fools is on April 1st, it's not March Fools you fools. #notfunny #traderjoes
— Leila Najafi (@LeilaNajafi) March 31, 2016

Is anyone else upset that Trader Joes will be closing business in 2017!! ??? #Wtf #TraderJoes
— Ashlee Elizabeth (@miss_mulatto) March 31, 2016

The early April Fools news about #TraderJoes shutting down really sent me into a panic attack. Where else will I get all my value #wine
— Rob Tiffany (@RobTiffany) March 31, 2016

Ok. If the #TraderJoes is an April Fools Joke on the the 31st then @YahooNews is full of mean spirited animals
— Touka (@reinetouka) April 1, 2016

The #TraderJoes April fools prank is the worst thing that's happened to me this year. And this is the year Trump is running for president.
— Jess (@jessparkhurst) April 1, 2016

Good one @YahooNews - #traderjoes going out of biz? You're playing right into the fear of your users who still check ya for weather
— Christine Deakers (@deakhaus) April 1, 2016

What is this I hear about #traderjoes going out of business, is this a joke?!!!! ITS NOT FUNNY!
— Stacy Ike (@onetakestace) April 1, 2016

#TraderJoes why you do me dirty like that!? I legit went through a post-breakup depression because of your tomfoolery. #AprilFools
— Emilie Tan (@_emtan) April 1, 2016

#TraderJoes What kind of sick and twisted bastard puts stuff like this online?
— steamboatwilliestyle (@theavengersdude) April 1, 2016

I'm not laughing #TraderJoes !
— Mary Gallagher (@myfriendmary) April 1, 2016

If you read their story and scroll to the very bottom you'll see it reads "If this shocking news hits you as hard as it hit me, fear not. It’s merely April Fools’ time. Now go celebrate being a fool with your favorite cheap wine."

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Is Trader Joe's really closing all its stores?

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