I am such a snob

[susandennis]

I first found Trader Joe's (a kind of specialty grocery store for those who have never heard of it) when I lived in California in the 80's.  It had a large variety of delicious and relatively inexpensive cheeses and they had a very tasty caviar that did not require a mortgage. 

When I first moved to Seattle, I think there was one Trader Joe's and it was small and crowded and had a very limited cheese selection and no caviar at all.  What it did (and still does) have was a huge cult following. 

People think if it comes from Trader Joe's it is perfection itself.  Garbage in a Trader Joe's bag is eBay worthy.  There is no downside to Trader Joe's at all.  I even have friends who have - on more than one occasion - invited me over and when I ask if I can bring anything, they say 'only if it's from TJ's!'  (I go empty handed on principle.)

So my snobby self has not darkened the doorway of a Trader Joe's in several years.  Until today.  I have no clue what prompted me to get in the car and go but I did and I got probably 10 lunches and 10 dinners worth of interesting food plus a box of cheese straws and a little tub of chocolate chip cookies all for $55. 

I am only annoyed that I was too cool to go for so long....

I am cool no more.

Comments

[cpratt.livejournal.com]

Hell, I just pulled into the driveway with $70 worth of Trader Joe's goodies. Sorry you had to do without for so long!

[susandennis]

Was that you??!! ha! I'm guessing different Trader Joe's (I went to the one on Madison in Seattle)... I'm a happy camper now.

[pisceandreamer.livejournal.com]

We've had TJ's here for a while, they've got some killer frozen 'heat & eat' stuff, and it was where I was introduced to chocolate covered espresso beans, aka 'techie crack'. It is a very cool place, tho.

My only gripe with them is that it's not a place I can do 'normal' marketing - a little *too* specialized on a lot of stuff. Same with Whole Foods, I need a place I can get the thai chili sauces I cook with AND Cokes...

[susandennis]

Yeah, they are not the place to go for Diet Dr. Pepper!

[machupicchu.livejournal.com]

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I work at PCC Natural Markets and am well aware of the broadening of our competition. We can no longer count places like Trader Joe's or Whole Foods as our only direct competition because conventional grocery stores are opening larger and larger special natural foods sections in their stores. I even sometimes shop in the natural foods section at my local QFC in Wallingford.

My point is that although it may still be difficult for you to find that thai chili sauce at the same place you buy a Coke, it probably won't be much longer before it gets easier to do just that. A place like PCC is never going to sell Coke, but the conventional grocery stores are going to sell more of those all-natural and more specialized products. It's only a matter of time.
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[pisceandreamer.livejournal.com]

Couple years ago, Wegman's opened here and they are by far my favorite market - they have *everything* - great produce, lots of specialty stuff and Cokes & toilet paper... :)

[kyrielle]

LOL. Yeah. I am still not cool. The local TJs when it opened was a little shop, with dirty floors and a bedraggled look. It looks much better but it is always crowded and the parking lot is horrific - I don't mean the occupation levels, I mean getting in and out of it, the driveway is so steep and the space so cramped. Unless they are selling resurrection kits these days, or magic stress-removers (literally), it's not worth it. It's real close to work - it is very convenient to my drive home - but the parking lot is so completely not worth it. (Whole Foods, which is halfway between work and home, is new and has a lovely parking lot. So far, I'm exploring whether they're worth it but it looks like the answer will be 'yes'.)

[susandennis]

Amazing because the parking was the real bad mark today. Very tight drive and very tight spaces. Once inside it wasn't bad and not very crowded. But I remember other of their stores that were exactly like you describe. Cramped and dirty and uggy.

Our Whole Foods is not handy. Mom and I used to trek out to one near her when I visited. I can do without.

[seattlejo.livejournal.com]

You will always be cool in my book.

I like Trader Joes. The one here is a nice walk from the office. I can go get lunch stuff and keep it in the fridge.

On the other hand i think its weird that folks would specifically ask for Trader Joes stuff considering you are so close to two other oh so nifty markets.

[susandennis]

You will always be cool in my book.

I am so getting that made into a bumper sticker!!!

[legalmoose]

Seems to be the time of year to let long-going things slip. :)

[artisanal_xara]

I was hesitant to fall in love with TJ's when they moved in across the street. However, with our Winn Dixie AND our Fresh Market gone I needed a place to walk for groceries, so I figured I'd give them a chance. Their produce is Cheap! Their root beer is good. They have an amazing selection of chicken and turkey sausage products. I am so in love it's not funny. I am totally addicted to their chocolate covered peanut butter filled pretzles. They are a hundred, no a thousand times better than they sound.

Yeah, I'm going to make fun of the people that come from all around on the weekends to shop there, and stand in line for 20 minutes for some pretzles. However on a Tuesday afternoon I'm totally happy to do my shopping there.

[susandennis]

It was you! Now I remember how I got the idea of going into my head. It was reading about your applying for a job there and how much you loved the place!! Thank you!!

[keelamonster.livejournal.com]

I had friends who were Trader Joe's crackheads too. trader Joes is perfection, blah blahblah.

I didn't realize that's it's just a smaller, uppitier version of a whole foods or similar granola market, as I like to call them. We had one open in Cary,and according to the woman who checked me out, it's one of the biggest stores, and it's still pretty tiny. They had a nice wine and cheese selection and that was cool.

But, ultimately, I'll do most of my grocery shopping at Costco and Harris Teeter and Lowe's. And then when I need the fancy cheeses, I'll head to TJ. Or Whole Foods. Or whoever's got them handy and on sale. Heh.

[pinkrose70.livejournal.com]

I like a few items at Trader Joe's but I don't often shop there.

The reasons?

PARKING LOT and cramped aisles.

You would think with all the profits they make, the could have maybe ONE TJ's with ample parking and aisle space. I've been to 3 of them here in California, and every one was hellish parking and cart navigating.