Was So Excited for First Trader Joe's Visit...but a bit disappointed

[3Gsandme]

I've been in a Tj's twice. It was crowded, and I didn't see anything that I just "had to have." I've heard people say "Oh they have great (fill in the blank)", but
usually whatever that is I don't eat it. I get the appeal of an upscale grocery store--Fresh Market is great.

Fresh Market is fantastic.

 

[3Gsandme]

Considering it's the same company, it makes sense.

That's not entirely true either. Aldi's parent company split in 1960. Aldi Nord operates Trader Joe's and Aldi Sud operates Aldi's. They are financially and legally separate companies.

 

[Divslp]

Surprisingly, at our TJ's, mid-day is pretty crowded, but early evenings are not (around 4-5pm). Weekends are extremely crowded and I avoid it at all costs on the weekend. I do the majority of my shopping at wegmans.

 

[LinderInWonderland]

I am a huge fan of TJs and missed them when I lived in NYC (this was over 10 years ago). Every time I would go home to MA to visit my mom I would stock up on dried fruit and nuts to bring back to the city.

Here in WA, we go to TJs once a month or so, mostly for frozen items that are very well priced (like frozen fruit, leeks, veggie blends) or just plain tasty and good to have around when we are too tired to really cook (I'm looking at you, Gnocchi alla Sorentino). This time of year, I stock up on all the special Triple Ginger items.

Truly, we have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to grocery stores and specialty grocery stores around here. Fred Meyer's has a pretty stellar organic section (my sister missed it every day now that she is back in MA).

 

[barkley]

for the record-tj's is very nice about holding items so if you've got a bit of a trek to get there and there's a few (not your whole list) absolute musts for you give them a call to see if it's in stock/have it held, if not in stock-is it available for reorder/have it held for you upon their receipt. I do this w/a few of the frozen items that fly off the shelf-pearl onions, root veggies, pumpkin bread pudding.

I was thrilled when tj's finally opened here-the 'organic mafia' (huckleberry's natural market) fought it long and hard for years but we finally got one and it's so popular a second is opening soon (right near a Costco so it will be very convenient for stock up trips).

 

[Worfiedoodles]

If you are most interested in the chocolates, another great time of year at TJ's is pre-Valentine's Day. You will need to shop earlier, but you can get some delicious treats!

Maria

 

[LinderInWonderland]

for the record-tj's is very nice about holding items so if you've got a bit of a trek to get there and there's a few (not your whole list) absolute musts for you give them a call to see if it's in stock/have it held, if not in stock-is it available for reorder/have it held for you upon their receipt. I do this w/a few of the frozen items that fly off the shelf-pearl onions, root veggies, pumpkin bread pudding.

I was thrilled when tj's finally opened here-the 'organic mafia' (huckleberry's natural market) fought it long and hard for years but we finally got one and it's so popular a second is opening soon (right near a Costco so it will be very convenient for stock up trips).

In the summer, I have them order me a case of their watermelon juice. I love it!

 

[barkley]

If you are most interested in the chocolates, another great time of year at TJ's is pre-Valentine's Day. You will need to shop earlier, but you can get some delicious treats!

Maria

we happened to be in one year on the day after easter-they were selling the solid milk chocolate bunnies for 10 cents each! we stocked up and would shatter them to make what our kids still fondly refer to as "dead bunny chip cookies"

 

[Mokat76]

Love how different we all are. I love TJ's because their products are good and prices reasonable. I do a lot of my shopping there. I won't set foot in Whole Foods--too pretentious and pricey.

 

[lorimay]

I feel like whenever I go to TJ's all I buy is junk food, that's my bad I know. But nothing else really sticks out to me. I have Whole Foods really close to me, I prefer to go there.

 

[maxaroni]

Love how different we all are. I love TJ's because their products are good and prices reasonable. I do a lot of my shopping there. I won't set foot in Whole Foods--too pretentious and pricey.

Lol. Very true. We shop wegmans, whole foods and TJs. However, we hate Aldi's. We tried a couple of products and felt they were inferior. Won't go to one again.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Our TJ is AWAY crowded with the smallest parking lot ever! It's okay... I go if someone wants to but I don't make a special trip for it. I like their frozen pasta meals and the thaw and proof croissants. We also stockpile the frozen chocolate banana slices because they're cheap but again... I don't make special trips.

 

[sharbear]

That particular trader joe's just opened and is unusually busy right now. I think your experience was clouded by the business on the store. The best time to go is a weekday morning or late in the day.

I like tj' but I know they are not for everyone. I liked their wine selection and cheeses. They have stuff that my local meijer does not carry and tj's have good prices on the things I do buy.

Grand Rapids does have fresh markets. They are owned by the same company who owns Family Fare.

 

[JKLLady]

Another one here not impressed with Trader Joe's. Much prefer Fresh Market & Whole Foods, and am usually in one of them at least once a week. Didn't like that all the meats at TJs were pre-packaged; I like to work with a butcher and pick out what I want that way.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I like TJ's at Thanksgiving time. I find certain things for the dinner. Other than that I only go if I can't find sugar pumpkin's ,then I buy them there.

 

[dashofsunshine]

I really haven't found other stores to be so crowded, during the day, during the middle of the week. Now weekends I would expect that. We went to a mall too while we were in GR and it wasn't crowded at all, nor was Target. Oh well, it was still fun to go to TJ's. I will just go earlier next Christmas season.

Wow, I want to live where you live!! I work evenings, so I am always at Target/Walmart/grocery stores during the day. The past two weeks have been ridiculous. Middle of the day, can't even find a parking spot at Walmart. It was the same at the mall this past Monday at 2 pm, haha. I'm glad you still enjoyed TJ's! Definitely get in there early in the season, people love their holiday foods

 

[DisneyOma]

I like TJ's at Thanksgiving time. I find certain things for the dinner. Other than that I only go if I can't find sugar pumpkin's ,then I buy them there.

Sugar pumpkin's what?

On the topic of pumpkins, I stocked up on Trader Joe's pumpkin ice cream - only to have husband bring all 4 quarts to Thanksgiving dinner at his parents' house and then forget to bring the extra back home. TJ's pumpkin ice cream is sublime as it is not too sweet, but really creamy.

 

[usnuzuloose]

Sugar pumpkin's what?

On the topic of pumpkins, I stocked up on Trader Joe's pumpkin ice cream - only to have husband bring all 4 quarts to Thanksgiving dinner at his parents' house and then forget to bring the extra back home. TJ's pumpkin ice cream is sublime as it is not too sweet, but really creamy.

Just regular sugar pumpkins for baking pumpkin pies.

 

[::danielle::]

I think it's important to note that hype TJ's is not about the shopping experience. It's about their proprietary products that are unique, tasty, affordable, or all three. I encourage all of you who have written off TJ's to try their frozen chocolate croissants. I promise they will convert you into a TJ's fan!

 

[GaryDis]

TJ's came to my area just when I needed a place to get kosher meat, so it's perfect for me. They also have some other hard-to-find kosher items (like bake-your-own biscuits). But that's not a significant reason for most people.

So I'll chime in and agree about the various specialty items, snacks like the Mochi ice cream and partially popped popcorn, an interesting supply of vegetarian meals and sides in the freezer, cold cereal much cheaper than the competition, specialty cookies. other desserts, lox at a good price, some excellent scotch oats, chocolate-covered ginger, and so on. We don't buy all our needs there, but we do get a lot of stuff.

It also helps that when DH was between software jobs, during the dot com bust, he worked there and found it to be a really fine place for middle-aged people with no prior retail experience. Enough so that he recommended it to another friend who got downsized, and that friend is still there. Lots of teamwork and respect all around.