Trader Joe's
 

Been to a Trader Joe's only a couple of times so don’t know what’s so special about them. We are planning to go to the one in Gainesville and would like to hear from TJ lovers what we should look for. PLEASE, we don’t need to hear from those who don’t know TJ and are happy shopping at Sam's or Costco. Thank you.

Our favorite wine is only available at TJ's

We like the Kung Pao and Orange Chicken meals in the frozen foods section.

Shop Gainesville once a month, Whole Foods, Sams (it’s bigger) Krispy Cream and Trader Joe’s. Loyal customer to TJ’s, never a fan of Aldi.

We buy their whole grain bread(purple bag) French toast bread, tiny cupcakes gluten free. Scones are very good, worth buying for company.

Chicken breast organic $3.99lb, very large Sea scallops $15.00 a pound. Their 80/20 ground beef is little course, great for chili. We eat very little beef, but is always flavorful. Brined turkey’s durning holidays.

Produce last for more than a week, their tiny avocados are perfect size for one. Tucson melon have the best flavor. Tomato’s taste like home.

Their lactose brand milk is better than fairlife, and their eggs are fresh. Cheese isle is extensive, and worth the trip.

Ripple potato chips are better than anything else I have bought.

Every month the flier is full of new items, we try most of them. Frozen section has items you will not find in any other grocery.

If you want fresh flowers herbs and plants are good prices. We buy their soap, sunscreen, and lotion. During holidays they bring in special gift items that our granddaughter waits patiently for.

Wine department is priced well, and always a couple of surprises that you can’t find anywhere else. (No we don’t buy 3 buck Chuck) they produced a $20 cab from stags leap, that could pass for a $100 bottle.

Prices are in the same range that you would buy in any grocery, 90% of the time less than Aldi (price checker on my phone). Quality of their items is worth the trip. I go online prior to trip make my list, so I don’t forget anything.

Thanks
 

Thanks, lots of good suggestions!

I grew up near the original Trader Joes in Calif. Their prices have gone up where I don't need to shop there anymore. They do have very unique products that they have bought out or decided to produce themselves under their name such as soup filled dumplings, or thai shrimp fried rice, face moisturizers, pound of dark chocolate. But since coming home with a bag of their groceries over the years has risen to $60 or more, it is not worth it. In Calif. there are Trader Joes in almost every city.

Not a fan of Trader Joe’s but to compare it to Aldi seems strange ad they are nothing alike. To me Aldi is an off brand second hand food store.

As it turns out we're making our ~every 6 weeks" run tomorrow to Orlando (TJs, Costco, Whole Foods, Einsteins bagels, Millennia Mall and late lunch somewhere on restaurant row). Anyway, TJ's and Aldi's aren't connected. Seems to be Internet lore.

The text below this link is from this article and about 5 other articles: Are ALDI and Trader Joe's the same company? - Almost All ALDI

Let’s get this out of the way right up front: ALDI does not own Trader Joe’s — and while we’re at it, Trader Joe’s does not own ALDI. So, how did this idea ever gain circulation in the first place? (Read the linked article if you care. :)

Note from me not the quoted article :) : They do both carry the same "Chocolate Chip Dunkers" (cookies) though (under different brand names. TJ's tastes slightly better with slightly different ingredients. :D While I am sure Aldi's is clean and meets all health codes TO ME they always "LOOK" (not are) dirty.

Trader Joes
 

I only went to TJ once in Long Island. I didn't find it anything special that I would travel to Gainesville. Just my opinion.

Apologies in advance for getting off topic for a moment...........

I'm from Long Island and I would say it this way........"I only went to TJ once ON Long Island". Is it "in" or "on"???? I never know which was correct. LOL.

Greatest selection of scrumptious cookies in the known universe, say I broadly...

It is not that big of store so you will have no problem exploring it.

I was there Thursday and bought several items that were their house brand. Very good quality and low price. Natural unsalted peanut butter and premium pasta sauce(made with tomatoes not puree) to name a couple.

Lots of exotic stuff that you will not find in The Villages too. I recommend checking out their website if you haven't already.

TJ
 

Cheese , Wine and Bread, the best

I prefer "while traipsing about."

Gingersnaps: bring me some:)!
 

If I could pick only two: Gingersnaps and lovely soup selection.

Trader Joe's spray sunscreen has been a top pick by Consumers Reports

Orange chicken, wine & onion soup

Add dark chocolate peanut butter cups, so much better than Reese’s.

But it's a secret?

Tomato-less salsa (it's actually corn relish). Used to be less than $3 a jar. Not sure now. I put it in quesadillas for the sweet to compliment the savory. Yum. Gluten free pasta. There was a time when TJ was the only place we could get it, and even when standard grocery stores started stocking, TJ was still less expensive. Also, lots of different tortilla chips, various grains. They used to have a 3 layer soft cheese in the dairy case - one layer was pesto, don't remember the other 2 - but it melted perfectly over hot pasta for a super easy side dish; my go to for a quick and easy pot luck side. And of course the wine. But now with Aldi and Total wine, the wine is less of a draw.

For us, TJs has always been more entertainment than necessity shopping. Most anything we ever saw that looked interesting was less expensive than other places and good quality.

The only thing I have ever bought at TJ that was (IMHO) inedible were the California rolls. Publix makes a fantastic California roll (albeit a little pricey).

We have not been there in a while. The Orlando store was a nightmare (the traffic and the parking).

What a fun posting. Have fun in Gainesville. Will enjoy hearing how it goes!

Trader Joe’s is a family owned business and they treat their customers like a family. Very few grocery stores have that kind of service anymore. I like the size of the store in our Illinois neighborhood. Unsure why a store isn’t available closer to The Villages.

Sprouts
 

Thanks I've wondered what makes people love Trader Joes

When we lived in north Dallas we had easy access to it, Whole Foods and Sprouts. Sprouts is great - good produce and lots of prepared items - we have Sprouts here by Whole Foods try them

Love the Gainesville Trader Joe's! Good deals on wine, cereal, and soaps, shampoos etc, their produce is beautiful.
They have an interesting assortment of sauces and tapenade. We like their snacks too, chips and crackers.
I guess we like everything about this store including the friendly efficient staff. Wish we had one close by. Enjoy!

I'm so glad you feel that way, one less person in line in my favorite grocery store ever.

"Upscaled" version of Aldi's. Owned by the brother of Aldi's.

They have a store brand flatbread pizza with a fila pastry crust and white sauce and herbs for topping that is very good.

No its not but didnt think it was part of the conversation. They do have an excellent selection of wine at all price points.

Aldi
 

[QUOTE=Garywt;2054482]Not a fan of Trader Joe’s but to compare it to Aldi seems strange ad they are nothing alike. To me Aldi is an off brand second hand food store.[/QUO

ALDI IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST Grocery stores in Europe and they have the best products available to The public .
Of course the ones here in the States are totally different .

(Formerly) 2 Buck Chuck ?
Trader Joe's Best 'Two-Buck Chuck' Wines, Ranked

Go ahead. Admit it! :D

TJ,s has really good frozen stuff, at a very reasonable price, that makes a quick dinner on the fly. We especially like their frozen fish, chicken fried rice, and eggplant parmigiana, among other things. If you go there, bring a cooler and stock up the freezer.

I buy huge bars of chocolate (pound plus), kung pao chicken, tea, and bread. I wish they were closer.

Flowers!
 

I love going into Trader Joe’s, if you love having fresh flowers on your table and reasonable little plants treat yourself; they have a great selection usually as you walk in the door. I love their bread and they’ve got a great frozen food section.

Their Irish ☘️ tea is excellent.

Trader Joe's Low-Sodium (70mg per 8oz) "Organic" Chicken Broth, 32oz Carton/$2.29. Not sure if its availability or price in stores have been impacted during the last year of inflation and shortages as I haven't been to a TJ's in awhile. Great to "stock"-up if they have it. Online (traderjoes.com), I do not see the low-sodium chicken broth and only see the 380mg sodium/8oz version.

Thanks for this thread.

I like TJ a lot, but I don’t get there often, so I feel like I am missing something because I don’t know enough about their unique offerings.

This thread will make our next pilgrimage to TJ more interesting.

Carry on — please and thank you. :)

Boomer

How long ago did they call wine 2 buck chuck? Sine we have been going there cheapest wine is 3 bucks and no our favorite wine costs a bit more than 2x that.

Oh, God they are good! My daughter turned my on to them...

Nope. That would be Lidl's, Not Trader Joe's...

VANILLA BEAN CAKE! - It's not always available, but when it is you want to get a couple (they freeze very well). I have not yet tried the Vanilla Bean cake mix, but I hope it's good enough to carry me thru until the next time I can grab the Frosted Vanilla Bean Cake at the store.

I had lived in Asheville NC for 6 yrs where there is a TJ. I always preferred Earthfare or Wholefoods. But I will say this TJ had an excellent wine section. Other then that no big deal.