Trader Joes
 

Just read that Trader Joes is coming to Tampa Bay. Ok so it's not exactly any closer than Gainesville, but it seems like they are coming closer.

Was in todays Business Journal under Retail and Restaurants.

At least one (if not 2) coming to Orlando / Winter Park

They've been in Sarasota and Tampa for quite some time. Coming to Orlando.

The Sarasota store opened in 2012, but the Tampa store is not yet opened. Two stores will open in Orlando in 2014, plus others are planned in Winter Park, Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Palm Beach Gardens.


http://www.tampabay.com/news/busines...a-site/2136103

There seems to be a lot of interest here for Trader Joes. What does this store have that seems to interest everyone so much? Is it a gourmet store like Fresh Market? What do you buy there that you can't get elsewhere?

Pirate Joe's
 

Did you see the news report about a Canadian who built a Store In Vancouver? Called it Pirate Joe's. Canada has no Trader Joes. So he opened a store that he stocks with Trader Joe Products. He drives to Somewhere in Washington State buys popular Trader Joes product and brings them to his store in Vancouver.

Seems like a perfect solution for us because I am sure our market is just to small for Trader Joe's to build a store here. But now Trader Joe's is trying to shut him down stating various legal issues but mostly I think just trying to protect their right to maybe some day enter the Canadian Market with Their name.

It actually sounds a lot like our wall issue. A company protecting it's rights to commercial development and make money on all it's positive aspects which they have spent millions to grow and promote.

Their brands of items are delicious and relatively inexpensive. We've just started using TJ's.....a bit of a drive, but a fun trip.

Check out their web site!
 

I was surprised by how small the stores are in square footage. (SMALL)
I recommend you check out their web site and see the different kinds of food they offer. I hoping that they build one in TV because I think they would do well here. It appears that they move in to existing strip malls. A location in Wildwood strip mall would work because it close to I75 which would be down from Gainesville store. They are expanding into FL and I'm hoping that they are considering TV.

I stock each time I'm back in WI and thanks to SW Airlines I check two full suitcases.

Favorite products?
 

Don't think I'm hijacking as this is all about Trader Joe's. Want to share some of your favorite products? I talk to people when I'm shopping there (we have 2 in Columbus, and I've also been to the one in Gainesville) to get new favorites.

Mine are the frozen crabcakes - 2 packages make a quick gourmet entree for us. I also love their cornbread mix. Just tried their quick basmati brown rice (10 minutes) and liked it. I'll bring back extra cornbread mix and rice, wish I could bring the crabcakes, but we stop a few days on our way down. What else should I be bringing, IYO?

Something interesting...I bought the "oreo" cookies at Trader Joe's, then some of the same at Aldi's, a sister company. The Aldi's was the same cookie, same design on it, different name, BUT with a thinner layer of the white cream center! I can't remember the prices though.

Let's have a moment of silence for my jar of Speculoos Cookie Butter that I dropped on a tile floor .. It is worth a trip back to Gainesville for more.

Trader Joe's and Aldi's are owned by brothers, or I might say originally owned by brothers from Germany.

For all of you Trader Joe's fans I have discovered you can buy hundreds of Trader Joes items on Amazon.com: Online Shopping for Electronics, Apparel, Computers, Books, DVDs & more. The shipping is free for prime members.

I would be happy to give you my (opened) jar of Cookie Butter. Too sweet for me. Send me a PM if you're interested.