what is so special about Trader Joe's?

[smiley]

A Trader Joe's opened today about 30 minutes from me. I am curious what is so special about this little store. It is only 11k square feet. The Publix I shop at is around 40k square feet. You gotta pack a lot of punch into a little space for TJs to be so popular.

So what is so special?

[Deleted]

Nothing.

[Deleted]

Sept 7, 2012 16:07:04 GMT -5 smiley said:

A Trader Joe's opened today about 30 minutes from me. I am curious what is so special about this little store. It is only 11k square feet. The Publix I shop at is around 40k square feet. You gotta pack a lot of punch into a little space for TJs to be so popular.

So what is so special?

I guess we live in the same town. It was on our morning news this morning. I was wondering the same thing.

[SJ]

I shop only at Trader Joe's because it is significantly cheaper and smaller than the other grocery stores nearby. I hate huge stores and feel all those options are unnecessary.

I do appreciate the lower grocery bills but I am not very price sensitive and would not drive 30 miles for TJ's or any other store. It is 3 blocks from our home.

[Deleted]

It is significantly cheaper than the other grocery stores nearby. Particularly for cereal (one of the few brand name items they carry).

And I like their cookies and haricots verts.

That's about it for me.

[insominac]

1. Good private label
2. Natural products.

Walk in the door, take a look.

[ejpint]

For me, the organics are cheaper, and even things like milk are cheaper (and I'm LCOL).

Also, love the ready to eat and frozen stuff. Much tastier options than the regular store. I'm extremely lazy in the kitchen, and usually have a couple of nights each week that I'm going to be home pretty late. I like to have something easy on hand for those days, and TJ's has great alternatives to takeout or shitty frozen pizza (like their Indian is pretty delicious for frozen food).

[belovedbride07]

I like their prices, the small stores, and their commitment to using non-GMOs. They have good organic selections, and like a pp said, their private label is good.

[smiley]

Sept 7, 2012 16:13:12 GMT -5 vigurl said:

Sept 7, 2012 16:07:04 GMT -5 smiley said:

A Trader Joe's opened today about 30 minutes from me. I am curious what is so special about this little store. It is only 11k square feet. The Publix I shop at is around 40k square feet. You gotta pack a lot of punch into a little space for TJs to be so popular.

So what is so special?

I guess we live in the same town. It was on our morning news this morning. I was wondering the same thing.

We probably do! Small World.

[chessie]

We went for 1 trip and found it was more pricey then the market.

[Pom]

We are getting a TJ's here on the North side and I will have to check it out even though it will be 45 minutes away.

[aurora]

2-buck chuck? Even if it is now $3?

I really liked the mint hot cocoa mix for the holidays and haven't figured out how to replicate it easily.

[Deleted]

Sept 7, 2012 16:31:12 GMT -5 belovedbride07 said:

I like their prices, the small stores, and their commitment to using non-GMOs. They have good organic selections, and like a pp said, their private label is good.

This. A lot of their organic foods are the exact same thing they sell at our co-op grocery store, but they are half the price and have a TJ's label. Winner winner, organic free range chicken dinner.

[satama]

They give my kid scratch and sniff stickers. Haha. He actually does love going there because of that though.

A lot of things are much cheaper there. Olive oil and almonds come to mind. I like a lot of the snacky foods they have. Fruit leathers, artichoke bruschetta, cheese, honey wheat pretzels, to name a few. The frozen green beans are good. The dark chocolate covered caramels are amazing!

[shopgirl07]

The huge selection of delicious, inexpensive wine.

[pugz]

peanut butter pretzels

[thegooser]

Sept 7, 2012 18:46:32 GMT -5 shopgirl07 said:

The huge selection of delicious, inexpensive wine.

This! I will be driving the 45 minutes to the nearest TJ's to stock up on two(or three)-buck Chuck. Once a month by the case should do it.

[dexteroni]

Good quality products at reasonable prices. Helpful, friendly employees. Convenience foods that are a lot better than the typical grocery store frozen pizza. Jo-Jo cookies, especially the peppermint ones at Christmas. Delicious and inexpensive treats to use as hostess gifts.

[Deleted]

Olive Tapenade.

[ILikeSloths]

I don't do all of my grocery shopping at TJ's, but I go there occasionally for a couple of convenience foods when I don't feel like cooking, healthy snacks, and other specific health items (things like chia seeds, etc.). I have food allergies and it's easier to find organic and soy-free items there. The prices are better than Whole Foods. They also have $3 bottles of wine.

[thumper55]

they have good dairy products, snacks, and nuts.
when in season the blueberries, peaches and nectarines are very good . I'm in CA so all TJs around here have decent produce.
its close to me ( maybe 3 miles) , but not worth a trip if it was far

I don't understand the hype about their frozen foods. Convenient yes; tasty no

[bronxgirl]

Sept 7, 2012 17:44:20 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Cheap, good quality products, good business practices. Nice wine selection. Friendly workers.

Lots of fun prepared food (frozen mostly).

All of this, except that in my state you can't buy wine in grocery stores :-( I don't use it as my main grocery store, but it is a good supplement.

[overture]

Trader Joe's doesn't own Aldi. The companies are both owned by the same family.

[pantsparty]

They sprinkle crack on everything!

[nannersp]

Sept 7, 2012 17:44:20 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Cheap, good quality products, good business practices. Nice wine selection. Friendly workers.

Lots of fun prepared food (frozen mostly).

Yup, this, especially the prepared frozen food, which is great for this non-cook.