Trader Joe's: that big of a deal?

[IHateMyJob2004]

Trader Joes has some good stuff. As already said, some stuff is more expensive, some things less. interesting store I guess. Probably best for vegetarians though.

 

[nerp]

You know what sucks about my Trader Joe's? I live in Rhode Island which has idiotic, puritianistic blue laws, which means that they can't sell alcohol in grocery stores. no Two-Buck-Chuck for me.

For cheap wines, I often gravitate to Tisdale. There's a local place that has 3 for $10 deals on it and the Shiraz and Pinot are quite good for $3.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

You absolutely need to see it. I'd set aside a whole day.

 

[zerocool84]

Not that big of a deal at all. I would think you'd be more interested in trying out In-N-Out more so than TJ's.

 

[zinfamous]

Not that big of a deal at all. I would think you'd be more interested in trying out In-N-Out more so than TJ's.

TJ's > In-N-Out...but neither are worth the "tourist stopover"

Though seeing as how In-N-Out is not bi-coastal (unlike TJ's), the overrated burger is more of an essential west coast thing for the tourist stopover.

 

[zinfamous]

Trader Joes has some good stuff. As already said, some stuff is more expensive, some things less. interesting store I guess. Probably best for vegetarians though.

they have quality meat choices at a great value, but lack of a real meat counter hurts them. I'd say their meat selection is better than their beer selection, though.

 

[oddyager]

It's worth checking out. I pick up snacks from there now and then.

 

[fustercluck]

Why are you traveling to Tucson? It's super hot and humid here right now - Trader Joes is nothing special, but it would only take 10 minutes or less to look around at one. Just not worth going out of your way for. Also have two or three In-N-Out burgers...but maybe you have In-N-Outs' where you're from.

 

[Jeraden]

Coffee, breads/cereals, snacks are all a good deal compared to other stores. Very nice selection of all of those too. Good selection of juices and sauces as well. All their fresh food is kind of overpriced (meat, dairy, produce). Frozen items are hit & miss - some of the prepared frozen food is really good - some of it is inedible (NEVER get their frozen shepherds pie - disgusting).
They have several niche items you can't find elsewhere, but nothing really worth going out of your way for...

 

[BoomerD]

We've shopped at Trader Joe's intermittently for 20 years. It's ok...trendy and overpriced on some things, but they have good prices on others...and you'll find stuff there that you won't find in your local Safeway.

Much to my surprise, Trader Joe's is a German-owned company. I didn't know this until yesterday when one of the owners died...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100728/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_germany_obit_albrecht

 

[John P]

I go to Trader Joes now and then and buy their kettle brewed tea, whole wheat pretzels, Brown Sugar Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal, and organic variety pack crackers. Good stuff and reasonably priced.

If you don't have an In-N-Out burgers where you are at I would recommend that over Trader Joe's, I love that stuff.

Since a lot of granola-birkenstock sandaled vegetarians hang out at Trader Joes your best bet for entertainment would be to get some burgers at In-N-Out then head to Trader Joes and eat your burger in the store.

 

[scott916]

They have plenty of awesome deals, although their meats tend to run on the high side and their fresh produce (mostly veggies) is usually overpriced. Like Ns1 said, their applewood smoked bacon is flat out amazing. I usually go for cereals, cheap liquor/beer/wine, dairy, eggs, juice, and snacks. Some of their frozen meals are pretty damn good too.

 

[vi edit]

Much to my surprise, Trader Joe's is a German-owned company. I didn't know this until yesterday when one of the owners died... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100728/..._obit_albrecht

Interesting. I knew Aldi's was German owned, but I didn't know the Trader Joe's connection to the company.

 

[torpid]

Some TJ's have relatively low prices on scotch (particularly balvenie in the places I've seen it). The chili lime chicken patties and gyoza are staples at my house, but I can't imagine going out of the way to visit one while out of town.