Trader Joe's
 

I know so many of you have wished for a Trader Joe's and it was said that they would never open a store in FL because of distribution problems. Well, maybe it's time to start bugging the company again! Our 11 pm news here in Naples just announced that we are getting the very first FL Trader Joe's! It's going to open in a former Border's Book Store. I've never been to Trader Joe's, but from all I've read here on TOTV, I'm really excited about it! If the one in Naples works out, I don't see why The Villages couldn't be next!! :icon_hungry:

Here's the link from the Naples Daily News: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/...coming-naples/

We have them here in Massachusetts and occasionally shop them.

I would LOVE this! They are the best place to buy nuts and dried fruits. Also as a single person much of there stuff is packaged in a friendly way unlike traditional groceries and warehouse clubs that go for extra large size packaging.......

Suzanne

I went out to the Trader Joe website, still nothing about Florida. It's not listed in the coming soon section. I hope you are right and they are venturing into Florida.

LOVE trader joe's. Someone described it as a place that PhD's who drive a cab shop at. They have great produce, cheeses, wine, etc.

TJ
 

I was so excited when I read the post about TJ. :pepper2:

Then I went to mapquest. If TJ opens in Naples, here in TV we have the dubious honor of being approximately equi distant from the TJ in Naples, Fl and the ones in Georgia.

I would drive to Naples to go to Trader Joe's, but would much prefer to have one a little closer!!

We just moved her 3 weeks ago from Richmond VA, and I miss Trader Joe's a lot. A few years ago, I wrote Trader Joe's and also many of my friends did to try and get them to open a store in Richmond, the nearest one was about 75 miles away. Well they finally opened one about 3 years ago...the best store ever! I am going write them and put the pressure on again.

I shop at the one in VA Beach and Newport News! I too will write Trader Joe's. I'll be moving down in January!:)

The whole thing does not make sense. Why would they install their first store so far south? I thought they had a logistical problem with distribution.

Maybe we could form a TJ's club and car pool together for a day trip.....:laugh:

Suzanne

Maybe they were just using that excuse? Remember Naples does have some $ hanging around. But so does TV!

But Naples doesn't strike me as big TJs shoppers.....

I must say my last visit to Joes was a little disappointing! I bought 8 canisters of the chocolate covered jellies (rasberry) and brought them back to Florida...only to find out they changed them! THINNER chocolate! Not good at all! It's a little embarrassing at the airport when you have to redistribute your luggage contents due to the fill up at Trader Joes!

I don't think there's any such thing as a typical Trader Joe's shopper. Some people shop there because the prices are reasonable and the quality is good. Others go because TJ's has items that you can't find anywhere else.

Save me a seat Suzanne! :)

We had a Trader Joe's on Cape Cod and loved the store. Lots of very different things. Another store I would just love to see come to the Villages is a Home Goods. We had two Home Goods stores on Cape Cod (which is very seasonal area) and I would think the Villages could support a store. Home Goods is a great store for decorating your home. I have been to the two in Orlando and wish we had one closer. I will have to write a letter to TJX.

Home Goods...another great store!:)

There's a Home Goods in Altamonte Springs, but we need our very own!!:spoken:

I have been in TJ's in CT as couple of times and found the quality of their products is excellent.

I have found the prices for what you get to be astounding in Home Goods.

I am a single guy that needed to decorate my condo to sell.

I say both stores would have a lot of TV customers if they moved within a reasonable driving distance especially if by golf cart. :)

Will do! But you'll have to wait a while I don't get to TV till Oct 17.....

Suzanne

I'm all for Trader Joe's and Home Goods, but let's not forget Christmas Tree Shop!:a040:
P.S. They're owned by Bed, Bath, and Beyond

I'm with you on this, Lary....Home Goods, Christmas Tree Shop....I'll be doing the Happy Dance...not sure about Mike, though....:laugh::laugh::laugh:

Count me in on the carpool! We went shopping for wine yesterday and I was not happy paying higher prices than what I normally pay for wine at Trader Joe's. We are going to VA for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I can see us coming back with a few cases of wine. BTW, we also had Home Goods, another great store.

Suzanne I will be down the week after for a couple of weeks...maybe forever! I am in VA now trying to sell my house. Waiting for someon:)e to come walking into my house and saying THIS IS IT! :)

Seems like Trader Joe's would do VERY WELL in TV, because there are so many east coast transplants here.

My son just graduated from Duke law school, and he is so happy that there is a Trader Joe's in Palo Alto, where he has a position......I wonder if he'd taken the job if there wasn't a TJ's.......goofy kid!

So sad that the TJ's here in MD do not carry wine.......but they still have great food!
Suzanne

Best of luck selling your home...where in VA are you? I'm coming from MD.
Suzanne

I am in Chesapeake, VA.

Trader Joe's vs Fresh Market
 

I am NOT in The Villages, because of this discussion I just went to a local Trader Joe's. It seems about the same as the Fresh Market on 466 only a little smaller.

Where I just moved from in Richmond VA, we had both stores Trader Joe's and Fresh Market. I have to admit I hardly ever look at prices when I shop, I feel as far as food if I like it and want it, I buy it. But, the big difference between those 2 stores is the price. Trader Joe's prices are a lot less then Fresh Market and Charles Shaw(2 buck chuck in California) wine, which is their own brand is excellent wine. With that said, I am going to pour myself a glass of wine!

:agree: I love Trader Joe's prices! Great food and great prices.

Suzanne

Fresh Market is more like Whole Foods, but I would describe T.J. as bargin gourmet. We buy their cheese, nuts, chocolate, coffee, and eggs here in MD. Love the quality and prices. I don't know about distribution problems since there is an Aldis near TV. Aldis is owned by the same group that owns Trader Joe's.

Here in California we have Trader Joes-I love them! but I love The Villages more. I'll survive without TJ and if they come to TV, I'll be be elated, plus living in Dizzyland.

Trader Joe's Expands
 

From a friend.

Trader Joe's has decided to add 5 more stores in Florida and are currently looking in Gainesville and Orlando. The Villages Real Estate agent is trying to get the developers for Trader Joe's to visit here, but they rarely rely on real estate sales people.

They do have the petition of over 800 names but it is time to step up the recognition of the Villages.

I propose on February 1, 2012, everyone access the Trader Joe's website, go to the contact page and use the request a location drop down to submit your name, email address and request for the Villages. If hundreds and hundreds are sent in on one day, they would need to pay attention to The Villages, or we can only hope.

You will get a computer email generated from them but you will not be added to any spam list.

http://www.traderjoes.com/about/index.asp


Thank you all so much in your efforts, please pass along to everyone you know that will take a minute sometime on the 1st to show Trader Joe's how much we want them here.

Please pass along so we can have lots of action on February 1.

Tee Shirts for Sale in California:

"Friends Don't Let Friends Drink Two Buck Chuck"


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Hey you 2 Buck Chuck fans, you may want to try Winking Owl wine at Aldi. Not bad and only like $2.79 a bottle. It's worth a try.

Well, Aldi and Trader Joe's are owned by the same parent company, so maybe there's a 2 Buck Chuck corporate vat somewhere:icon_wink::icon_wink:

I've been shopping at Trader Joes on a weekly basis for years in MA. They are a unique store that offers very good Trader Joe branded items as well as beer and wine. Yes, that includes there famous Two Buck Chuck which in MA is $2.99 per bottle. I've never hesitated to buy this wine by the case, especially when hosting parties. Yes, it would be nicebto have a Trader Joes close to TV.

Regarding wine deals, IMHO, one of the best deals is Black Box. It's a box wine and boxed wines have improved leaps and bounds. Once opened, your wine can last up to a month. I purchase Black Box from Sams for about $16 and given you get the equivelment of 4 bottles in the box, that breaks down to about $4 per bottle.