Trader Joe’s typical customer is between 25 and 44 (those born before 1965 make up 30% of their customer base.)
Average income is around 90,000

Not really overpriced.

They made 2 Buck Chuck famous.

You are confusing TJ’s with Whole food, or a vegan store. Yes TJ’s does have 3-5 Tofu products. But anyone who uses tofu in a dish, usually buys base, and adds what spices they want.

Prices on many items are equal or less than shopping at Publix or WinnDixie. Big difference for shoppers, no Additives or Preservatives.

Bonus one doesn’t have to shop at stores that you don’t have the financial ability to do so.

I've never shopped at a Trader Joe's, though I've heard a lot of good things about them, largely from people who also patronize Aldi. Since both Aldi and Trader Joe's have the same parentage, so to speak, then I'm assuming that they're run similarly. Overall Aldi prices are not because of cheaper ingredients or a plethora of chemicals in their products, but because the stores run FAR more efficiently. Better-trained (and paid) workers, concentrate on the essentials (no bagging, shopping cart "service" that is pretty much self-serve, etc.), quick turnover of products, and a limit on the number of products sold (the average Aldi sells about 1,400 products while the average supermarket sells about 40,000) makes stocking far easier and quicker. I've rarely seen an Aldi with more than four workers on at a time. Publix? Probably 20 or more on average. Publix probably has huge overhead compared to Publix. That extra overhead translates into higher prices.

If Trader Joe's approach is similar, then I'd have no basis to believe that their products are any less healthy than, say, Publix. And I'd probably pay a heck of a lot less.

Is your comment based on previously shopping at Trader Joe’s? I used to shop at TJ’s weekly, and my grocery bill was far less than shopping at major grocery chains. Better and healthier food, with a good variety of choices.

You mention we don’t need another “overpriced, high brow store”. What are these other stores here in The Villages that you reference?

TJ’s has employees scurrying about like ants. And they bag your groceries. Of course, most of them smell like a very earthy cologne (weed).

Obviously written by someone who has never set foot inside of a Trader Joe’s. Not expensive, not anywhere near anything you wrote.

Trader Joe's
 

I was a resident of Sarasota, shoppers paradise.. We all were very excited when Costco opened there. Shortly afterwards, Trader Joe's came in. I read that Costco will be building here in 2025. I'm hoping that Trader Joes will follow after Costco is open. It's time The Villages became a retail empire!

Trader Joe's
 

Done-- THANKS!

Villagers have been trying to get a Trader Joe's here for many years. About 10 years ago, Villagers presented Trader Joe's with a petition signed with over 6,000 signatures. They were rebuffed and told, "We will never open a Trader Joe's in The Villages."

I suspect that there was either a falling out with the Morse family or that the rent for a location is a percentage of your sales.

YOU FORGET TV is growing leaps and bounds eventually it will get here

Almost all Commercial Lease have a % of sales condition. Makes sense for both parties.

Probably under water in Clearwater IMO that was bad choice for location unless the built it 15 feet above sea level.

DONE! I submitted a heartfelt plea to Trader Joe's to build one at least NEAR TV.
 

DONE! I submitted a heartfelt plea to Trader Joe's to build one at least NEAR the Villages, if not IN the Villages. I've heard that getting commercial property here can be 'difficult'! So, I would gladly accept NEAR, in order to not have to make the HOUR + drives to Orlando or Gainesville.

If you are a TJ's fan, please submit one, too! (even if you have submitted one before!)

Let's go with NEAR the Villages and cut out the Morse bureaucracy! And 6 years is a LONG time ago. Demographic here has change 6Xs over! Many people are moving here from cities, towns, places that HAD a Trader Joe's and need it back!