I lived in Heidelberg for 18 months where there were Aldi and Lidl stores everywhere. I refuse to shop in them again because everything just seemed to be a mishmosh of stuff with no organization. I WILL go to TJ for their amazing frozen chocolate croissants, chocolate chips, and cookies.

Fresh Market 466A

Fresh Market is on Rt 466, not Rt 466A

I actually went to one of the mNagers when I was in Trader Joes in Long Island. I told him to tell corporate that a Trader Joes was needed in The Villages Fl. He said if enough people would email corporate, that would be a start. What I would REALLY like to see here in TV is a store like Ivaronnes or Uncle Guiseppe's . They both have the best ready-made appetizer section. Tons of choices. I would always buy grilled chicken and sides. THE BEST!! I tried to research if there was anything close to that type of store. Couldnt find anything close by. I went into Fresh market and the grilled
chicken was $5.99 a piece! I walked right out of there.

Looking forward to Sprouts Farmers Market. And thankful for Fresh Market since moving here.

Fesh Market is totally different from TJ's. 2 totally different types of places. FM barely has any frozen foods, TJ's is about 50%+ Comparing FM and WEG's you are 100% correct. Those can be compared (Wegs way above) but neither are the same kind of place as TJ's wrt items they sell. That's like comparing 7-11 to Publix.

Don't worry though, TJ's will never come here for the same reason Costco won't. Too many whiny old people. Look what happened to that market over on 441 by the Wine (not whine) place. Blame it on Covid or Construction or whatever but it had virtually nothing to sell.

We do the Costco, TJ's , Whole Foods run about every 6 weeks to Orlando . That's one of the big problems with The Villages, none of those "upscale" places would ever come here nor would any major retail chains. As many people that live here, it's just not their demographic. They SELL crabs but don't like dealing with them. They probably read these forums and RUN! :a20:

[QUOTE=
We do the Costco, TJ's , Whole Foods run about every 6 weeks to Orlando . That's one of the big problems with The Villages, none of those "upscale" places would ever come here nor would any major retail chains. As many people that live here, it's just not their demographic. They SELL crabs but don't like dealing with them. They probably read these forums and RUN! :a20:[/QUOTE]

TJ's is a upscale, major chain? I'll take some of whatever you're smokin'.

Most every major chain of every sort, is located within 15-20 minutes of The Villages. Driving to Orlando to do grocery shopping, certainly doesn't sound like a "upscale endeavor" to me.

Sprouts is comparable to Trader Joe's. There's another western chain that I liked better though its inventory is not as big, Natural Grocers. Not sure why some don't like these markets that offer many organic as well as foods with few chemical additives. They may be more expensive but the brands they stock are better for your health. Whole Foods is great despite that now it's tainted by Bezos.

Wegmans--Finger Lakes tunnels
 

Wegsmans is part of the unfortunate underground/tunnels activity. Finger Lakes needs a deep dive
Shop local so you know exactly what is in your food.

?
 

Trader Joe fans what are the things you get there most of the time - what is there best things?

Trader Joe’s
 

Aldi is not Trader Joe’s but is similar.

Wine

Because they do not compete with Aldi's generally in small markets, the founders were brothers.

We had and Earthfare which was awesome, but it closed, there is an Earthfare in Ocala and I hope it stays open. All organic and great bakery

Don’t know about TV but there’s places called “Jungle Jim”, they’re about exactly like Trader Joe’s.

You’ve got to be kidding

I doubt he's kidding. FM is hands-down better than TJ

Frozen isle, wine department, pet food, cosmetics, soaps, at Fresh market is a joke, compared to Trader Joe’s. But one really needs to shop both for years to compare price and quality. But one can buy a pie for $14 dollars at FM compared to TJ’s for $7

Will say not a fan of TJ’s donuts, and cupcakes due to gluten free. But they do make the best vanilla bean scones I have ever had.

Yes I got some from Earth Fare in Lady Lake before that closed. The almond one is pretty solid compared to Fresh Market which is a bit on the runny side. It's about $5 more though than Fresh Market. Either way though I'm happy I found them.

I found the spot in the Trader Joe's website where they still allow you to request a store in your home town. I just submitted a request for them to consider The Villages. I also told them that The Villages is constantly growing & has many residents who used to shop at Trader Joe's near their previous home & would like to continue to shop there in The Villages.

How is a new thread started. I do not see anywhere on the screen to do this.

Click on "forum" then "all forums home". Scroll down until you see the forum topic you want to use and click on it. Click on "post new thread".

Thank you very much. I would not have been able to figure that out. Thank You.

I don’t see how they are similar. Trader Joe’s is high end stuff that I don’t eat and ALDIs is cheap brands Tharp no one has ever heard of. Not sure how you can compare the 2.

Just went to TJs in Tampa last Sunday and it took almost 45 minutes in a line just to get into the parking lot. That is how popular TJs is in Tampa.
Wine and Frozen food sections are great

Never understood the "T.J's thing" UNTIL I started shopping there regularly and really got familiar with their products and brands. That's when I finally understood our adult children's loyalty to the store. Similar to what others do concerning making a trip to Gainesville a fun mini vacation, lunch at a fav, trip to whole foods, etc. we do the same only to Winter Park, a place we enjoy. Usually nice brunch at Another Broken Egg, stops at T.J.'s, W. Foods, and several other of our favs. Makes a nice day, good to get out of the V's for awhile !

15-20 minutes ??? LMAO. 15-20 minutes out of The Villages gets you cows and broken down stores and maybe into lovely downtown Leesburg. Can barely get to Walmart in Leesburg in 15-20 minutes or even in the Villages for that matter. Lotsa car dealers though.

As for Orlando. Never JUST for food shopping. Always for a full day of all kinds of shopping and sometimes entertainment. Never said it was UPSCALE (but a lot of it is) but don't see any major BUSINESSES (other than car dealers, broken down bars "within 15 20 minutes of here. " It takes 15-20 minutes just to get from 466A to 441 to enjoy fine dining at Chick-Fil-A or Chicken Salad Chick! !!!! I think your sense of time is off a bit. ;)

Let's see: Orlando. Every major retail store and/or restaurant you can find none of which is even close to 15-20 minutes. Multiple outlet malls, restaurant row. Even been there? Every major fine restaurant you can name. Multiple major theme parks. Multiple Costco's :D. Multiple TJ's. :D List some of those "every major chains" 15-20 minutes? Even downtown Ocala is about 45 minutes and even they don't have much.


Well, if you consider lots of Fast Food restaurants, Beef O' Bradys, Beals, and 20 local restaurants all owned by the same folks "major chains" then maybe you're right and even most of them aren't 15-20 minutes from here and I am about 1 mile north of 466A.

Agree with drive to Gainesville UNLESS you also need a Costco fix -- then about the same distance will get you to Costco, TJ's and Whole Foods. I've always referred to Whole Foods as "Whole Paycheck" and believe they are quite pricey. Fresh Market is great if you get their emails and know what to shop for/when (on sale). LOVE Sprouts, but really only bought bakery, deli, dairy and produce -- they won't have all the brand names you'll find at Publix. Sprouts is often the lowest price for produce -- except maybe Aldi, but that store gives me the creeps.

meant to say same distance south (Winter Park area...).