On Sat, 30 Oct 2004 20:33:50 -0000, Dog3 <dognospam@adjfkdla;not>
wrote:

>Our 1st Trader Joe's had the grand opening on Friday. It is not too far
>from my house. I've seen the store mentioned in threads in the past. What
>do the people that shop there think about it? I'm leafing through their
>Grand Opening brochure and they have what looks to be some very decent
>items. Except the 60% brie. It does not sound so good to me. The prices
>look pretty good too. Not low but not as high as Straub's. I think I'm
>going to mosey over there tomorrow and have a look-see.
>
>Michael

The one thing you have to remember is that TJs is not a regular
supermarket. If you go in expecting to find things as they are in a
regular supermarket, then you will be very disapointed.
Yes, they do have a lot of things that regular supermarkets have, but
a lot that they don't have. I don't as a rule go there to buy
produce or meat, as I can generally find what I want elswwhere. But
occasionally they have something I want, if I am at the point where I
absolutely need it.
That being said, they do have some good deals, and selections
sometimes.
As I have been traveling around the country, I have tried out the
various TJs. I first experienced them in California, where they were
born and bred. When I went to one of the in Gaithersburg MD, I was
surprised to find that the cottage cheese I loved from other TJs, was
obtained locally, and was not the cottage cheese I had from other
stores: it was narsty! Same with some other products. But then
again, in some of the frozen good they carried, I couldn't find the
same back in California, and I wish that the California stores carried
them.
So what one person talks about getting from TJs on the east coast, vs
what someone talks about getting on the west coast, may be entirely
different.
They all seem to carry the wonderful chocolate bars from Belgium.
Sometimes the fruit and nut selections differ...What I can routinely
find in a California store is not as available the farther east you
go: it seems more limited than what California stores offer. But it
is still a good value, I think.
I tend to buy butter from them, and they usually carry Plugra at
really good prices. If they have the Trader Joes brand of Kalamata
olive oil, that is also very good.
Their wine selections are usually pretty good as well, although I
noticed the selection changing from east to west. On the east coast,
there was much more European wine available, and it was a good value.
On the west coast, in California, the California wines predominate.
In Arizona, I noticed that the selection of California wines was much
less, and not as great a variety.

So, go there with an open mind, and try some things. I am sure
everyone has their favorites. I usually buy Greek yoghurt from them,
as well as the butter. They have been producing a good Greek Style
yogurt as well, which I think is really good. Their little bottle of
balsamic vinegar is generally a fair value...as is some of their olive
oils. I see these in most of the stores.

Some places, the cheeses are good, some places they are bad. I do buy
some of the goat cheeses though, and have liked them.

Anyway, have a good time exploring! Let us know what you find out that
you like!

Christine