[jblum315]

Trader Joe's opens in Gainesville Wednesday 12/12
Trader Joe's
Click the Trader Joe's URL to see all they have to offer!

[Cantwaittoarrive]

Road trip

[shcisamax]

Joy to the world. yum.

[spk7951]

We are planning on stopping there Thursday afternoon on our way back from Shands.

[Villages PL]

By the link provided I didn't realize it's a grocery store. But after reading the article about Trader Joe's in today's newspaper, I understand that's what it is.

What today's article didn't explain: What store does it compare with? Does it compare with Aldi's? Save-a-Lot? Fresh Market? Walmart? Notice that the lowest prices are found at grocery stores outside of the villages.

[redwitch]

Villages PL, I'm not sure Trader Joe's compares to any other store. Maybe Fresh Market but a LOT cheaper. It has old-school service, kosher meat, great coffee, cookies, cheap wine, wonderful organic produce (at pretty much prices close to regular produce at the stores here). In size, I'd say our Aldi's is the closest.

It's an easy drive from here and worth doing once in awhile. Here's hoping they decide to open one here.

[obxgal]

Do you have to "join" and pay a yearly fee like you do for Sam's club??

[bike42]

Originally Posted by obxgal

Do you have to "join" and pay a yearly fee like you do for Sam's club??

No. Just shop and indulge.

[asianthree]

Trader joes and Aldi are of the same parent company with joes being the upscale of the two

[Villages PL]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Trader joes and Aldi are of the same parent company with joes being the upscale of the two

Thanks, that explains a lot. I shop mostly for fruit and vegetables at Aldi's and I imagine the produce section wouldn't be all that different from one store to the other.

[Debfrommaine]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Trader joes and Aldi are of the same parent company with joes being the upscale of the two

I didn't know that and just tried Aldi's for the first time last weekend and was pleasantly surprised. In fact, I mentioned to someone that I saw a couple of Trader Joe items at Aldi before reading your quote. Interesting and thanks for sharing!

[SALYBOW]

We just returned from a wonderful visit in Ohio for the holidays. We got to see many of the family, stayed with good, good friends and saw as much snow as I want to this winter. West Chester OH had about 3-4 inches when we left and was expecting more yesterday and today. As we were leaving Cincy we stopped at Trader Joes and stocked up on $3.00 Buck Chuck. Well 3.89 buck chuck actually. We bought a case of wine, 3 lg bags of pecans and almonds, several boxes of their famous Tomato Basil Soup and about four more things. The Bill was $79.00 for all of it! God I miss TJs.
We went across the street and hav a meal at Skyline (Cincy's beloved chili,) and went to pick up 8 pounds of Goetta and one of Kahn's Braunschwager. We are in hog heaven.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

Thanks, that explains a lot. I shop mostly for fruit and vegetables at Aldi's and I imagine the produce section wouldn't be all that different from one store to the other.

Ah, but you would be amazed at what else there is besides produce! If this has any importance to you (it sure does to me...), every item sold by Trader Joe's under their own label is non-GMO. There are things you can find at TJ's that would be hard to find anywhere else. Make one trip there and see. Simply put, it's a gourmet shop without gourmet shop prices! We shop at Aldi regularly and like it, and even though they have the same parent company, there is no comparison!

[graciegirl]

I have never been in a Trader Joes and often wonder too at the enthusiastic supporters they have.

A neighbor served me sweet pickled beets and they were WONDERFUL. She said she had stopped at Trader Joes and bought them there.

It is hard for those of us who have not been to a Trader Joe store to conceptualize.

Please tell us what some of your favorite things are to buy there.

[mfp509]

Good idea, Gracie - I would love to know what items people really like from Trader Joe's. I'm going up with a group on the 19th and it would be great to have some recommendations. I'll certainly look for the pickled beets.