Explain to me the appeal of Trader Joe's

[look 171]

I am still laughing as I type this.

[12own911]

Peppermint Jo-Jo's... need I say more?

[VINMAN]

Originally Posted by gprsh924

They have a number of specialty type items that are often quite hard to find anywhere else. I can often get healthier, cheaper foods at TJ than at the conventional supermarkets. However, I don't buy everything there. Like anything else, you can find deals and you can find stuff that is obscenely overpriced, you have to do your homework.

Pretty much the same reasons for me. I love the place. It's my version of the Apple store( for you Igeeks.) Some of their prices are high, but some stuff is extremely cheap, compared to other stores here in NYC/NJ. Their prepared / ready to eat foods, wraps are half the price of any deli around here. The cereals are waaaay cheaper then the supermarkets. Coffee is excellent.

Also I will back up the hot babe thing. All the ones that work and shop in the local one here are smokin.

[LSA]

Originally Posted by look 171

the best place to shop because the women that shop there aren't exactly Wallmart quality. they are usually hot and thin.

By hot and thin he really means unshaved and feminazi...

It's not a bad store, not really that different from vons or any other grocery store, the quality of the food is usually a little better nothing I would go out of my way for except for the "TJ" rebranded mayonnaise that comes in a glass jar. Best mayo I've ever had, whoever makes that stuff has it down and with the glass you don't leech that plastic taste into it!

[craigster59]

As has been stated, the ones in So Cal are "MILF Central". I like the chicken gyozas, crown of rolls, cheese selection and bratwurst. Oh, the beer prices aren't bad, Oranjeboom "tall boys" for $5.99 (used to be $3.99, we'd buy a bunch and keep it on ice when we came back out from backpacking the Sespe).

[speeder]

Originally Posted by LSA

By hot and thin he really means unshaved and feminazi.

Not around here. Definitely shaved.

[gprsh924]

Originally Posted by LSA

By hot and thin he really means unshaved and feminazi...

It's not a bad store, not really that different from vons or any other grocery store, the quality of the food is usually a little better nothing I would go out of my way for except for the "TJ" rebranded mayonnaise that comes in a glass jar. Best mayo I've ever had, whoever makes that stuff has it down and with the glass you don't leech that plastic taste into it!

Yep....you're at the wrong Trader Joe's. Try the ones in Chicago...hot 20 somethings in yoga pants as far as the eye can see on a saturda/sunday morning.

[scottmandue]

Low price on Scotch, whole coffee beans (and good selection), two buck chuck... nuff said.

Don't buy everything there either but the above items are hard to beat.

[tabs]

Shyte man I bin goin to TJ since the late 70's...day once had sum AusTRALian JUMBO Lobster tail (avg 2.5 lb ea) that BBQed up so FINE....$12.00 a lb...

TJ used to buy up lots or overages of different kinds O booze & beer and U used to git it cheap...

I be buyin der Whole coffee bean...PoPO Dijion Mustard, Dundee OJ Marmalade etc

[matthew-s]

Originally Posted by 12own911

Peppermint Jo-Jo's... need I say more?

This! Stock up, they come but once a year!

[Rob Channell]

Mocha Java coffee. It's not chocolate flavor. It's a nice mix of Ethiopian and Indonesian coffees.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Love the place! All the reasons stated above. Whole Foods ("Whole Paycheck") is great too but insanely expensive for just about everything. There was a great place in SoCal called Wild Oats - haven't come across it elsewhere. Similar model - very nice environment, good and mostly healthy choices. Not quite as expensive as Whole Paycheck.

One thing I absolutely LOVE about TJs is no stupid "club cards". Dear Lord do I hate those things! Why should I be penalized with higher prices just because I don't want to carry your silly card around with me or allow you to personally profile my shopping habits? Eff off! None of the above-mentioned stores do it. There's a place around here (local/regional?) called Hannifords that's fairly good too although less "upscale" grocer than TJ/WF/WO... They're perfectly adequate though and similarly don't try to bulky me into their profiling/phishing card scam silliness, so I go there semi-regularly.

TJ is definitely my first choice however...

[Zeke]

I have had a gift card to TJ's for a year. Used to go there a few times a year but got tired of the freakin' crowds. You can't pause to browse w/o thinking you're out in the middle of the intersection and the light's red.

Was in a TJ's last month (forgot the damn card) and there were a couple of MILF's that were making me start to behave funny. I had to leave.

Other than the eye candy, I think TJ's has lost some of the mystique.

[VaSteve]

Re: whole foods.... the safeway has an aisle of organic/specialty foods. Why can't whole foods spare an aisle for "normal foods?"

Going to multiple places to shop for food. Eff that.

[GG Allin]

Trader Joe's, brought to you by the same family that brought you Aldi's, Try the frozen French Toast, it's ridiculously good.

[12own911]

/\ /\ /\ would agree their french toast is good but the Steel Cut Oatmeal with Banana and Walnuts added in is the best!

[speeder]

Whole paycheck is where you should have put your whole paycheck a few years ago. Like right when the stock went public.

[nostatic]

Whole Foods is half a block from my house. The place annoys the crap out of me. While I like the quality of the chicken and fish there (though SM Seafood is better), the prices are astronomical and frankly the produce is hit or miss. For the prices they charge I'd expect better quality and more consistency. They also don't carry some basic things so it does end up being a "one of many stops" trip. Fail.

I used to live right next to a Pavillions that blows Whole Paycheck out of the water. I miss that place and actually will drive there to shop now and again.

btw, this was filmed at the Whole Paycheck right near my house:

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Trader Joes': smokin hot girls, really good prices, many hard to find interesting foods, smokin hot girls, free snacks while shopping.


Whole Foods: only buy meat at Whole Foods, easily the best meat other than going to a butcher or having stuff delivered from VT or NH.


Vegetables: Russo's Welcome to Russo's

[TimT]

Trader Joes is a panacea for people who can't cook!!...

Yea that bag of pot-stickers looks interesting and yummy... just steam or fry...

Blech...

I shopped at Trader Joes a few times.... then a smack in the face epiphany occurred...

Instead of buying the repackaged crap that TJ sells... I learned to shop and cook...

They also don't carry some basic things so it does end up being a "one of many stops" trip. Fail.

I don't mind at all having to "stop" at more than one place to assemble the ingredients for my meals.....

I can get fish right off the boat... went to school (30 years ago) with one of the Captains...know which markets have better produce. etc..

Shopping with my wife and MIL in Tianjin reinforced the locavore....In China they (my in laws) shop every day... sometimes the would go to market more than once if "something" special came in...

Trader Joes..... blech.....