Trader Joes

[eits]

Umm, you get the quarter back. Aside from that I don't buy their produce or their meat, but the cottage cheese, milk products, breads, special deals (Campell's Firehouse Chili a month ago) and several other things like the Dorito's knock-offs are fantastic. Ice cream bars and a few other things make the trip worthwhile as well....

that's why i said deposit... i know you get it back.

it's just some bullshit, i guess, because i never carry cash or change or anything.

 

[Capt Caveman]

they used to be better than they are. i LOOOOVE their carne asada tri-tip steak.

whole foods > trader joes

some of their stuff is actually reasonably priced... some other stuff is laughably priced, though.

You are comparing two completely different types of food stores. Price isn't even comparable.

i'm kinda surprised there aren't more trader joe's around here

Depends where you live in MA. I have about six within five miles of me. Two in Cambridge, one in Backbay, one in Coolidge Corner, one in Lexington and one in Newton.

 

[slayer202]

the couple things i've tried haven't been good. a few of the frozen meals, some of the thai noodle ramen like things, none of em were good, borderline bad. the store was smalllll, i was surprised the first time i went in. doubt i'll ever go back

caveman, why are they completely different? trader joes is basically a tiny ass supermarket

 

[McWatt]

It's not a TJ branded item, but you can get Valrhona chocolate there at ridiculously low prices. It's typically >3x the price elsewhere.

 

[Capt Caveman]

caveman, why are they completely different? trader joes is basically a tiny ass supermarket

Serious? That's like saying Old Navy can be compared to a Neiman Marcus.

Different Missions and Concepts.

Whole Foods -> Selling the Highest Quality Natural and Organic Products Available

Trader Joes -> We just focus on what matters — great food + great prices = Value.

If I want to buy produce or fish, I go to Whole Foods. If I want to buy some frozen foods or dry goods, I go to TJs.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

Depends where you live in MA. I have about six within five miles of me. Two in Cambridge, one in Backbay, one in Coolidge Corner, one in Lexington and one in Newton.

there's needham too. the only south shore store is hanover the brookline store is the best imo

 

[IronWing]

We stopped shopping there when we realized most of the stuff we were buying there was high fat junk food.

 

[nageov3t]

I don't really get TJ's... it's like my normal grocery store but with a more limited selection and worse parking.

 

[Capt Caveman]

there's needham too. the only south shore store is hanover the brookline store is the best imo

Yeah, the South and North Shores have been neglected. Hopefully, they'll expand out further. My parents live in Needham and I hit up that store too.

 

[cruzer]

Can't believe this old favorite hasn't been posted yet:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdB7GDZY3Pk

 

[djheater]

Trader Joe's for dry goods and cheap ass wine.
Costco for meats, dairy, breads, some produce (poor availability)
Local bodega for the rest of the produce in smaller quantity.

Brew my own good beer, and garden as much as possible in my 3 season window, and I'm set.

 

[blinblue]

Trader Joes always has the cheapest and best pasta around. Consistently 99 cents/pound, even the local chain grocery stores rarely go that low on a good sale (and then its always the crappy house brand)
Also, their bacon=amazing.
Aldi, Costco, and Trader Joes collectively get 80% of my grocery business

 

[CRXican]

first time? you live under a rock?

everything is epic

 

[JS80]

Pretty new to CA, was in Fresno appx a year, now LA area, just moved to Culver City last week.

Go to Father's Office. Get the burger medium rare. Thank me later.

 

[IGBT]

extra dark bitter chocolate bars.

 

[AmerDoux]

Dark Morello Cherries. Required ingredient for a cherry cobbler recipe I have. Also great over vanilla ice cream. I havent been able to find them anyplace other than Trader Joes.

 

[hofan41]

trader joe's chocolate granola bars gave me salmonella

 

[mjrpes3]

trader joe's chocolate granola bars gave me salmonella

did you tell them?

 

[preCRT]

Yeah, the South and North Shores have been neglected. Hopefully, they'll expand out further. My parents live in Needham and I hit up that store too.

I've begged them for years to expand in MA, starting back when they were only in Cambridge. There is still a giant hole with no TJs between Needham, Hanover, Hyannis & Warwick, RI.

Hell, I even lobbied for them to make a deal with Bob Kraft & pick up one of the empty stores at Patriot Place, but have they listened? Not yet.


The Beacon St store in Brookline isn't bad, but they have a God awful parking lot, too damn small.

 

[KillerCharlie]

Trader Joe's stuff is better than a regular grocery store and cheaper. It's not as good as stuff from Whole Foods or whatever, but it's much cheaper.