Trader Joe's

[winneythepooh7]

Who shops here? I am in love with this store. I didn't have them in Queens but there is one nearby to where I live now. This is the best place, although I couldn't afford to do ALL my grocery shopping there ;).

[wordsmith]

Here, they're exclusively located in the city/suburbia, so I'm outta luck. It's cool, but it's not "drive two hours" cool.

[K-man]

I love their frozen stuff -- my fridge is stocked with their boneless/skinless chicken breasts, mix vegetables, and pastas.

For fresh veggies/meat and pre-made stuff though, I prefer Whole Foods.

[winneythepooh7]

Here, they're exclusively located in the city/suburbia, so I'm outta luck. It's cool, but it's not "drive two hours" cool.

That's true. I also think that most grocery stores have gotten much better with stocking different types of "ethnic" foods and specialty foods and what not. And I don't care if something is organic either.

[steph78]

We don't have Trader Joe's here in the southeast yet - I have heard so much about it that I am eager to see what the deal is with this store. I do know that one is coming to Atlanta soon since my company just issued structural drawings for the new store this week! Last I heard, the exact location had not yet been revealed to the public...but I know where it is! And I am excited because it is right on my way home from work. :)

[SmilesSoSweet]

I love that store. I haven't been to one in awhile, but there are a couple stores out here.

I still buy my staple items at a regular grocery store though. I usually go to TJ's to buy seafood and other stuff that is much more affordable there.

Maybe I'll stop by sometime this week and see what I can buy there! :)

[inuts]

There's a Trader Joe's about a five-minute walk from my place. I like it, but for the most part it's single-serving meals for busy professionals. There isn't much if you're looking to buy in bulk, or for a whole family. But I don't have a family (yet), so it suits me just fine.

[Kitty]

I live close to one..I love their eggplant hummus.

[monicax]

I LOVE Trader Joe's!

I worked there for a yr and half while I was in high school.
Two buck chuck is the greatest!!

[EmberMae]

They don't have any in Texas. It's unfortunate, as I've heard good things about their quality and prices as compared to Whole Foods, etc.

[29 forever]

TJ's pwns all. I pretty much exclusively shop there.

[JamieMarie]

I love it! I do most of my shopping there! I love the food!!

[Kitty]

The TJs around here is SUPER CHEAP. I never understand why people out of state say it's expensive. I wonder if the stuff is made or packaged in Cali and that's why it's so much cheaper? D and I usually get a heaping cart of stuff and it's like $100. When we do the same thing at Safeway, it's easily $200-$300.

[29 forever]

The TJs around here is SUPER CHEAP. I never understand why people out of state say it's expensive. I wonder if the stuff is made or packaged in Cali and that's why it's so much cheaper? D and I usually get a heaping cart of stuff and it's like $100. When we do the same thing at Safeway, it's easily $200-$300.

It's the same here. I can get more bang for the buck at TJ's than I can the local grocery stores. Maybe they have TJ's confused with Whole Foods. Whole Foods is pretty pricey unless you buy their store brand items.

[Setsail]

Oh my gosh, Trader Joe's is sooo good. We have a couple near me, but I'll be moving soon to the city, and it'll be one of those "back home" things. I will have a Whole Foods, but still.

The seafood, bread, veggies, and prepared foods are the best at TJ's. Also, it's just a fun store to be in. I wouldn't necessarily want to work there, wearing their Hawaiin themed uniforms, but I enjoy it as a customer.

Ooh, and try their "homemade" salsa! Yum.

[winneythepooh7]

The TJs around here is SUPER CHEAP. I never understand why people out of state say it's expensive. I wonder if the stuff is made or packaged in Cali and that's why it's so much cheaper? D and I usually get a heaping cart of stuff and it's like $100. When we do the same thing at Safeway, it's easily $200-$300.


I think like at any grocery store, if you start filling your cart with the snacks and prepared foods they have at TJ's it's going to add up quick. If you stick to the basics, it's pretty much the same IMHO. Another thing I absolutely love about TJ's is they get you in and out so quickly. The store can be packed and you are in & out. I can't say that about my local grocery store, or even about many grocery stores I have used. I can be on the express lane with one item in the local Waldbaum's and will still be in there damn near all day!!!

[pisces2473]

You guys still have Waldbaum's? Ours became A&Ps.

[wordsmith]

They're def. more expensive here. But I think it's because they're exclusively located in more pricey areas.

[Kitty]

I think like at any grocery store, if you start filling your cart with the snacks and prepared foods they have at TJ's it's going to add up quick. If you stick to the basics, it's pretty much the same IMHO. Another thing I absolutely love about TJ's is they get you in and out so quickly. The store can be packed and you are in & out. I can't say that about my local grocery store, or even about many grocery stores I have used. I can be on the express lane with one item in the local Waldbaum's and will still be in there damn near all day!!!

We get a ton of the pre-packaged foods and snack stuff and it's still rarely over $100.

It's signficantly cheaper than Safeway. At least here.

[winneythepooh7]

We get a ton of the pre-packaged foods and snack stuff and it's still rarely over $100.

It's signficantly cheaper than Safeway. At least here.

Well, I still live in a very high-cost area, so that may have something to do with it. We still have Waldbaum's here Pisces.

[Kitty]

Well, I still live in a very high-cost area, so that may have something to do with it. We still have Waldbaum's here Pisces.

Haha..I'm not arguing, but I actually think I live in just as high a cost area of living. I honestly think it's TJs is cheaper in CA or something. I'm going to do some google research...

[winneythepooh7]

Haha..I'm not arguing, but I actually think I live in just as high a cost area of living. I honestly think it's TJs is cheaper in CA or something. I'm going to do some google research...


Could be. Isn't it a California-based company?

[Kitty]

Could be. Isn't it a California-based company?

Yeah, it was founded in CA and I think they buy a lot of their stuff from this area - so maybe it's freight cost that's being added on?

Like, for example, really large pre-made/packaged fruit salads are $3.99 at TJs. At Safeway, the same thing is like $8.99.

I also recommended some croutons to a fewllow QLCer, who told me that she ended up not getting them cause they were $5, but when I looked at my store they were $1.99.

[wordsmith]

I think you might be right...a couple of my friends who are total Trader Joe's cheerleaders moved recently from L.A. cross country, and are ASTOUNDED at the fact that it's so much more expensive elsewhere. They're like, "Oh, we never understood why you guys didn't shop there like we did...now we get it."

[Starsailor]

I don't know what the reasons are behind the pricing, but....the one in NYC is definitely not hands-down cheaper. It depends on what you're buying really, which is probably like a lot of grocery stores actually. Some of the stuff is much more affordable than even regular chains like Key Foods, but other stuff is just as much as Whole Foods, which is ridiculously overpriced, in my opinion (I know people say it costs more to produce organic foods, which makes sense, but some of the prices are SO MUCH MORE than the normal products that it's hard to believe it's reasonable. Sometimes it seems they're just taking advantage of the 1) organic movement and 2) the trendiness of their name).

[wordsmith]

I concur, and agree on the Whole Foods commentary, too. If a particular place is deemed trendy, it def. gets taken advantage of...this shows in the pricing.

[winneythepooh7]

Yeah, it was founded in CA and I think they buy a lot of their stuff from this area - so maybe it's freight cost that's being added on?

Like, for example, really large pre-made/packaged fruit salads are $3.99 at TJs. At Safeway, the same thing is like $8.99.

I also recommended some croutons to a fewllow QLCer, who told me that she ended up not getting them cause they were $5, but when I looked at my store they were $1.99.

Interesting. Could be. I like getting their frozen chicken breasts because of the packaging they come in (resealable). I think it's like $9.99 here though and that's for like 8 or 10. I think their frozen veggies are cheap. Bread can be pricey (close to $3.00 a loaf) but I usually buy the more expensive breads in the grocery store anyways so it's not a big difference really. All the snacks (like pita chips and such) are usually $1.99 a bag. I don't often buy the prepared stuff (like dips and hummus and such) because they guy hates that stuff, and unless I am having people over, it just goes to waste because I can't eat it myself fast enough. I also think their fresh fruits and veggies tend to be close to the grocery store's prices. Obviously staple items like mustard and ketchup and such I can do better at the local grocery store. I think their canned tuna and such is pretty cheap though!

[pisces2473]

TJ's isn't really a bargain for me, as it's almost 1/2 hr away from me, and Stop & Shop is not even a mile from my house.

[yankeeyosh]

TJ's isn't really a bargain for me, as it's almost 1/2 hr away from me, and Stop & Shop is not even a mile from my house.

The town I live in is the HQ for Stop & Shop...when you drive in to town...you can't miss the corporate offices.

Dunkin' Donuts was founded here, too...

[Kitty]

I don't even know what stop and shop is?

[yankeeyosh]

I don't even know what stop and shop is?

It's a major supermarket chain in NY, NJ and New England.

[pisces2473]

I don't even know what stop and shop is?
LOL it's okay! It's a large grocery chain in the Northeast. Although that's funny, because I've heard of Safeway...

Mark, now I know where you liiiiiiiive. ;)

[Illuminous]

Panang Curry Tuna. I wanna go buy some now. Way better than your typical tuna in a bag.

This is sad, but one of the most exciting things about moving to CA for me was TJs.

[chicagogirl]

I worked for Trader Joe's for about 2 years while I got my master's degree. I have to tsay that they treat their part-time employees pretty darn well.
I generally love what they carry, but I get frustrated that they move through products so quickly. I mean, I can understand if some rare nut oil weren't selling well so they got rid of them, but why get rid of all of the frozen mushrooms?! It's just aggravating to plan to buy things there and then find out that they're all gone. grrr

[Starsailor]

LOL it's okay! It's a large grocery chain in the Northeast. Although that's funny, because I've heard of Safeway...

I was never really a fan of Stop and Shop. Safeway is mainly midwest, south, and west, though there is a pocket of them here in the mid-atlantic area. There's one in London even! Stocked up there when I could when I was living abroad.

[RealDeal]

Love Trader Joes -- one of hte best grocery stores out there. Everything is so cheap -- love it.