Trader Joe’s is nothing like a regular store. It has its own brand of foods from all over the world. Don’t expect to find lay’s potato chips or Heinz ketchup etc…. Some things are great some not so great. TJ’s sells organic whereas Aldi doesn’t. TJ’s has healthier brands in general. They have the best nut selection too for a great price. I love it and wish there was one closer. I don’t like Aldis and don’t like how Publix over charges for everything. Quite frankly, it’s insulting how much they overcharge.

You should take a better look at Aldi. They sell organic products all over the store.

There's a giant gulf between a "private restaurant" & a "private country club".

TJs has plenty of junk food selections full of saturated fat, sugar and processed carbs. If they didn't they would go out of business.
Trader Joe’s Reveals List of Their Most Popular Products for 2024

But they do have a better selection of healthier products than most supermarkets.

Just FYI, a New TJ's just opened last Thursday in Plam Harbor, (just north of Clearwater if you find yourself going down that way)

Subject of a private CC has been around since we came in 2007. Many like us are used to having that private CC option, but unless we move farther down the coast it’s not going to happen. Plus after playing at multiple in FL, they are truly a boys club, and females can be second class. I don’t see many buying into a private CC in TV. When Oakland Hills CC burned to the ground, one didn’t hear much grumbling about lack of a place to dine, or locker room. Just the tremendous loss of such history.

It would be an all out revolt if that happened to paying members in TV with a small buy in of only $50,000, and a $500 a month commitment.

About 12-15 years ago, residents of TV presented a petition to Trader Joe's for a store in TV. The petition had over 6,000 signatures. Trader Joe's management accepted the petition and, without reading it, stated that they would never open a store here.

Never was keen on Traders Joe’s

I find that statement to be entirely unbelievable. Mostly because TJ management are pros and know it would be bad PR to say such a thing plus there is nothing to gain about making such a sweeping statement.

Further, no one can predict the future with any consistent accuracy - that's another reason they'd never say it. Frankly, the most obvious place for them to put a store would be south Ocala to capture that population plus the close-by Villagers.

I have been shopping at various Publix stores since 1996. They had a lot of them around Palm Harbor, Oldsmar, and East Lake back when we lived in Palm Harbor. I have gone to a number of them in the Villages as well.

We did go to some Trader Joes in Northern California and do remember the various items from all over the world for sale.

We came from Columbus Ohio where there are many TJs. Been to the one by our old house a few times. We just don't see why everyone goes so crazy about them. We leave with very little. Last year stopped at the one near Tampa, ended up coming out with nothing.

Maybe a taste for the exotic? I prefer familiar things like Publix Chicken tenders.

That was then this is now

The Villages is the antithesis of the Trader Joe shopping demographic. If they ever open a store here, it will a long wait in my opinion.

That said, I just don't get it. I drive past one most every day, when I'm not in TV ... twice. I might stop in once a year if I'm desperate for a particular item and don't want to go to a real grocery store, but for every day shopping, TJ is a definite non-starter.

They have an excellent wine selection. They have a world wide exclusive on our favorite wine.

High quality fruits and vegetables as well.