[gerryann]

Rather than hijack another thread that is running about Trader Joe's.....I have a question.

I was in San Diego recently. I needed a few items and saw a Trader Joe's. I had never been in one before and had heard such great things about them here on TOTV...thought I'd give them a try.

Well, I was so completely unimpressed. What I am guessing is this.....Are there different sizes, quality, etc of Trader Joe's? This store was Soooo small. I mean really small. I ended up going next door (yes, next door) to a Von's supermarket to get what I needed.....maybe they have like...satellite stores or Trader Joe convenient stores?? I was so surprised.

I was expecting something like a Wegman's......now THATS an awesome store!!!

[Gulfhills]

I'm in Tallahassee visiting my son, and went to Trader Joe's today. I wasn't impressed either. From what I understand they are basically all the same everywhere. But I could be wrong.

[jebartle]

Our Village made a pilgrimage to Gainesville, I was the one that left and shopped next door!...I just don't get it!

[CFrance]

You all just go where you want to shop. Just don't trash the attempts those of us who love it are making to get one here. It won't run anyone else out of business.

There are many specialty items in TJ's that aren't available elsewhere. If you just walked into a store while on a trip, you wouldn't come out with the fantastic frozen food items or other things available. You don't go there looking for mayonnaise.

[sunnyatlast]

Have never been impressed with Trader Joes. Most people I know who go there like the cheap wine and drive there to buy it by the case.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by CFrance

You all just go where you want to shop. Just don't trash the attempts those of us who love it are making to get one here. It won't run anyone else out of business.

There are many specialty items in TJ's that aren't available elsewhere. If you just walked into a store while on a trip, you wouldn't come out with the fantastic frozen food items or other things available. You don't go there looking for mayonnaise.

Whoa. I am not worried about Trader Joe's harming anyone's business.

My continued questions are not a conspiracy to keep small businesses out of anywhere. If they are good they will grow into big businesses with CEO's who make a bundle. That's how it works.

I pray that all my friends daughter in law's will be those CEO's. Bigger and Better Christmas presents for my friends.....don'tcha know?

[theorem painter]

I do half my weekly shopping at Trader Joes and the other half at Wegmans. I will miss both when we move permanently in October. BTW our Trader Joes does not sell wine. Trader Joes has great prices on cheeses and unusual choices. Cookie Butter is their #1 seller. Think peanut butter with crushed up ginger snaps. Frozen foods are great especially the Mandarin Chicken. Every store is different. I have been in the one in Gainesville and could not find the products I was use to buying because a large portion of the store is wine. Tonight for dinner we are trying a new product: Chicken Pot Pie Raviolis.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Whoa. I am not worried about Trader Joe's harming anyone's business.

My continued questions are not a conspiracy to keep small businesses out of anywhere. If they are good they will grow into big businesses with CEO's who make a bundle. That's how it works.

I pray that all my friends daughter in law's will be those CEO's. Bigger and Better Christmas presents for my friends.....don'tcha know?

TJ's is not a small business! They are nationwide. Just not in TV.

[NotGolfer]

The brother of the founder of T.J.'s owns Aldi. Not everyone care for Aldi neither. I for one would LOVE a T.J.'s here as they carry specific items at a great price that is harder to find OR is a high price somewhere else. I wouldn't do my weekly shopping at one but I definately would get the items I love if we had one. We shop Aldi as well and don't get our entire grocery list there.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by NotGolfer

The brother of the founder of T.J.'s owns Aldi. Not everyone care for Aldi neither. I for one would LOVE a T.J.'s here as they carry specific items at a great price that is harder to find OR is a high price somewhere else. I wouldn't do my weekly shopping at one but I definately would get the items I love if we had one. We shop Aldi as well and don't get our entire grocery list there.

There isn't one grocery store that carries everything we eat on a normal basis. We mainly shop in WD and go to Publix once or twice for things they have that WD doesn't. And Publix doesn't carry some things we need that WD does. And Fresh Market--hit that when they advertise raw ocean caught FL shrimp, or if I want some of their specialty items.

I would be happy to add TJ's into that for the things I like there. I find grocery shopping relaxing. (Except for Walmart.)

[CFrance]

Different strokes for different folks.

[graciegirl]

Homepage: Welcome | Trader Joe's

In here they say they plan to open in Davie, Florida...which I had never heard of. It is a town of 91K in Broward County. Wonder why THEM and not US?

Hope they don't think we are a bunch of old folks who wouldn't enjoy what they had to offer.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by sunnyatlast

Have never been impressed with Trader Joes. Most people I know who go there like the cheap wine and drive there to buy it by the case.

Yuck cheap wine. Kosher, kosher, no nitrites, no phosphate, organic is why I go

[FlamingoFlo]

I used to be able to get cat shaped animal crackers there. Loved them.

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by gerryann

Wow, I guess you're right. All I wanted to know is if they are all the same. I guess they are and I guess I don't get it.

When we lived in San Diego county there was a Trader Joe's in the city next to us. It was not impressive. The bulk of the offerings were frozen. Very little fresh foods. While the frozen foods were quite good, we rarely shopped there. Too many better choices. It may be different now as it's been 10 years since we left there.

When we went to visit my son and his family in Chicago, they mentioned they shopped a lot at Trader Joe's and, since it was right across the street from our hotel, we stopped in. It was completely different. Most of the food was fresh and far less frozen. Many interesting things we didn't see elsewhere. The Gainesville store is much more similar to what we saw in Chicago. We go there every so often and enjoy the drive.