Trader Joe's

[wincrasher]

I'm in Greenville, SC.

[graceful]

I was excited to find a TJ that was midway between my house and Costco (that I go to regularly). I stopped by this weekend and saw people with full shopping carts and a very brisk business. I walked around the store at least 8 times just LOOKING and HOPING to find something to buy. Alas, nothing appealed to me. There was no wine in this store. I bought a bottle of spice apple cider so as to not leave empty handed...

There were a lot of interesting frozen foods. But tiny portions at high prices. After just getting back from Costco, everything was tiny and like wincrasher says, "meh."

Oh well...

[HappySaver]

I can't live without TJ's. But it's also true that I hate superstores and don't belong to Costco, etc. If I did, and if environmentally-friendly & natural products weren't so important to me, I'm not sure how valuable TJ's would be.

As it is, I buy all my staples there (cereal, peanut butter, jam, pasta, sauce, cleaning products, etc.) I love that they have choices without preservatives & chemicals without a price markup for it (not sure if Costco can say the same). Like their cleaning products that compete with Whole Foods style cleaning products at half the price.

I don't bother with the produce/meat though; I'm lucky to be able to buy that at a local farmstand-style grocery store.

That leaves milk and fresh fish as the only thing I buy at a traditional grocery store, making me their worst nightmare as a customer.

[Lynk]

I love Trader Joe's. We don't have one anywhere near where we live. But my daughter lives near one in St. Louis. Every time we visit my daughter and I have to take a trip to TJ. I love to find things I have never tried. It is a very interesting store.

[timotheus]

I like Trader Joe's for work lunches. Their frozen burritos are good, and $3 for 2!

I hate buying fruit there though, because they put most of their apples, etc in plastic containers. It seems like unnecessary packaging to me, and I hate waste. Also, for me their breads/tortillas get moldy within 3 days, no matter what the date says.

[jdavis103]

TJ's is a great source for nuts.. All kinds, generically bagged, plus things like almond flour that can be very hard to find in a regular market.

[persnicketyhousewife]

I LOVE Trader Joe's! They carry a lot of items your regular grocery store does not. They also have a LOT more organic options, and many vegetarian options (my daughter is vegetarian).

[wincrasher]

We did cook up the tortellinis that I bought. They were really good and cheap and something I don't find in the grocery store. I'll go back for more of those - maybe a monthly trip to stock up. Everything else we bought was kinda "meh".

[graceful]

We have a Stew Leonard's in NY and CT and I find it far superior to TJ. LOVE the fresh produce and home made items. Large selection of organic items.

I never leave the store empty handed whereas, I couldn't find anything to buy at Trader Joe's.

[humandraydel]

Our town just got a Trader Joe's. Of course everyone has gone nuts and the place is pretty packed.

G-Vegas??

[Lori63]

Try their wine-yummy and cheap

[Sissta2009]

Yeah it's definitely worth it! Just go at off times if you can - they have loads of delicious and unique items that you don't find at a regular grocery store

[benlin910]

I love TJ. Fruits