Trader Joe’s Harlem Crew Goes Viral Vogueing, Celebrates Black History Month

A short TikTok posted on Feb. 23 showed professional dancers A'ja Desormeau and Zanita Johnson leading coworkers in high-energy vogueing and ballroom moves while restocking the pasta aisle of a Trader Joe’s in Harlem. The clip, captioned by Desormeau, "Happy Black History Month from the Blackest Trader Joe’s in NYC," was widely shared and identified by commenters as taking place on 125th Street because of the people, music and the store’s hangout vibe.

The video captures specific ballroom choreography while staff handle inventory: Desormeau and Johnson execute vogue hand work, duckwalks, death drops, dips and coordinated hand movements as they push and stock shelves. At one point Johnson casually duckwalks and then hops to her feet, described in coverage as doing so "with a superhero’s ease." For a moment the pair move in tandem; the clip ends with the two smiling at each other and returning to restocking duties.

Both Desormeau and Johnson are described in the footage and reporting as professional dancers who also work at the Harlem Trader Joe’s. Materials supplied with the recording note an alternate spelling of Desormeau’s last name, appearing as A'ja Desmoreau in one line, and flag that detail for verification. An additional caption line linked to a television segment identifies A'ja as dancing in a production in New York City, but no production title or further credits were provided in the supplied material.

Zanita Johnson, who appears prominently in the clip and in additional reporting, framed the in-store performances as part of the store’s atmosphere and customer experience. Johnson said, "Believe it or not, 125th Street? Our customers are very diverse." She added, "Every single last one of them appreciates the music. They tell us." Johnson further recounted customers telling staff, "You know, the line wasn’t that bad, and the music helps," describing how music alters shopper perceptions during busy periods.

Johnson connected the clip to ballroom culture and media influences and spoke to personal identity as context for the performance. "I’m really inspired by ballroom. I love ‘Paris is Burning.’ I love ‘Pose.’ I’m a lesbian, so being in the queer community means everything to me, and I’ve always just loved to vogue," she said. Johnson also clarified her relationship to ballroom communities: "I’ve never been a part of a house. I just watch, I appreciate and I learn. And, you know, and I get in the studio and try and figure out movement on my own."

Johnson attributed part of the store’s atmosphere to the store’s music policy, saying the Harlem location "has permission to play whatever music they desire," a practice she credits with creating the neighborhood hangout vibe. The clip’s mix of workplace duties and choreographed movement turned the Harlem Trader Joe’s pasta aisle into a moment of local performance and, for a brief time online, a culture beat about how employees shape store atmosphere during Black History Month.