<p>We have a new store opening up in our area Wednesday called Fresh Market. I have to drive an hour to get to the closest Trader Joe’s - is this store similar? I love Trader Joe’s for it’s natural food selection and prices but it’s a real outing to head to the traffic congested areas where the TJ’s are located in the Philadelphia area. If you have a Fresh Market - anything I should definately try?</p>
<p>I love Fresh Market, although it is not like Trader Joe’s. It is more of a gourmet food store, although it does have some organic products and some “regular” groceries - I would describe Trader Joe’s as an organic market with lots of other stuff.
Our choices are very limited, so FM is very welcome, of you have Trader Joe’s already, you might not think that it is so special.</p>
<p>We used to have a Fresh Market and I liked it for some selections of foods, but our area didn’t support it well due to its higher prices. I have heard that Whole Foods is a great store and sells organic, natural, whole grain, plus all “regular” groceries–at competitive prices–wish we would get one here!!</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say we “have” a Trader Joe’s. The closest one is at least an hour away and in an area I’m not familiar with, but I have made the trek twice.</p>
<p>Whole Foods is absolutely wonderful; I’m lucky to have two near me. The prices are somewhat higher, but it does get a ton of support in my area.</p>
<p>I recently discovered TJ’s. I have to drive farther, so I don’t go very often, but it has a lot of cheaper organic food (not to mention the Two Buck Chuck–though it’s actually three bucks in out state. :))</p>
<p>I think one of the best things about these stores is that their popularity is making good organic, natural food more widespread (I got organic chopped beef at Costco!) and bringing the prices down so that they’re become more and more affordable for everyone.</p>
<p>You can think of a Fresh Market as a mini-Whole Foods. At least around here, the Whole Foods is mammoth. The Fresh Market is close, small, and although selection is limited and some items are pricey, its a great contrast to the large grocery stores like Publix, Kroger, etc.</p>
<p>Trader Joes is fun … but Stew Leonards is the “Disneyland of supermarkets” or “the world’s largest dairy store”, depending on your superlative quotient. I took our French exchange student to the Norwalk Stew’s this afternoon. He tells me that Stew’s is “special.” That was after being serenaded by the dancing milkboxes, the Dole fresh vegetables, and the country bear singalong. I am not sure what he means exactly by his use of the word “special” to describe that experience.</p>
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<p>“Somewhat” higher? I like Whole Foods, but it doesn’t get called “Whole Paycheck” for nothing.</p>
<p>I miss Whole Foods- I lost it in my move to TN. We have Wild Oats and Fresh Market. Fresh Market isn’t that close to me, and Wild Oats can’t compare to Whole Foods. Oh well- a Whole Foods is supposed to open soon.</p>
<p>We don’t have a whole foods around here. I think I saw one a few months ago when I was getting together with a friend south of here, but that was also about an hour away. I did visit one near my daughter when I helped her move into her place in St. Louis last year. We went from Costco to Trader Joe’s to Whole foods - and then she was stocked up for three months! Never hear of Stew Leonards. Where is that?</p>
<p>Our grocery stores are starting to get more organic and ethnic food but they don’t have the whole thing down pat like Trader Joe’s - ethnic and organic and well priced! My favorite grocery store is Wegmans but that’s a 20 minute drive. Can you see why I’m excited about something new?</p>
<p>After reading this thread I feel fortunate that there’s a Whole Foods <em>and</em> a Trader Joe’s within ten minutes of my house! Anyway, although there is some overlap, IMO the main difference between the two is that Whole Foods has more of the fresh stuff such as fruits, veggies, meat, fish and poultry whereas Trader Joe’s has more of the prepared, bagged, canned and frozen type of organic foods. </p>
<p>Recently, a small local supermarket, which is just a minute from my house, renovated to convert to a gourmet type place. They had good reason to think the area would support it, but unfortunately did not take the mindset of people around here into account. As it turns out , for specialty and gourmet food items, people are already used to shopping at places like WF, TJ and other specialty markets as well as a great farmers market that already exist. The customer base (including me) really valued <em>this</em> place for the fact that it was close to home and carried all the <em>basics</em>. Apparently, the store misjudged and may even consider going back to the old model. Anyway, I think sometimes coming into an established area is a hard thing to do for these stores and they are better off in areas where there’s nothing like it already. </p>
<p>Sounds like this may be the strategy that Fresh Market is using. The store that is opening near kathiep appears to be their first in PA or the northeast for that matter.</p>
<p>Stew Leonard’s is in Connecticut, kathiep!</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.stewleonards.com/html/about.cfm[/url]”>http://www.stewleonards.com/html/about.cfm</a></p>
<p>Just to give ya perspective, there are no Whole Foods OR Trader Joes in my entire state! However, one of my kids has both across the street from her dorm. Where she lives is worlds apart from where she grew up. We shop at a locally owned grocery store!</p>
<p>(Actually, we don’t have Fresh Market in my state either, but neither does my kid in NYC).</p>
<p>We have a Fresh Market and its very popular. They have great prepared salads and roasted chickens, drummettes, the best meats,etc.</p>
<p>We have Whole foods, Fresh Market and Trader Joes here (though the Trader Joes are new to the market, and I haven’t been in one of the local stores just yet). There is a Trader Joes opening up the road about a mile from Fresh Market–we’ll see what it does to Fresh Market. I’ve found Fresh Market’s prices to be high, but I like their sushi and meat/fish (though a neighbor recently claimed that their quality ws inconsistent). Here, The Whole Foods bought out Harry’s Farmers Market. I much preferred it when it was Harrys. The bakery items arent as good or as broad-ranging, and I no longer go out of my way to get to one. I will go in if I am nearby,though.</p>
<p>I’ve been to the Stew Leonards in Yonkers (NY). Its big, and a bit of a maze. Hard to find stuff and they make you walk all over the place to find what you want (good marketing, I suppose). Prices were high, IMO.</p>
<p>Once you learn <em>how</em> to shop at Stew’s … it works. You will find the shortcuts so that you can get from the bakery (at the beginning) and go right to the checkout, skipping the rest of the store. </p>
<p>Prices used to be a lot better IMO – the bargains are in the quantity discounts. I have not been to the Yonkers store … just the Norwalk original store and the Danbury store. I hear they are opening a new one near Hartford as well.</p>
<p>cnp-
I finally found a few of the “shortcuts” at Stews- the bigger issue is that there were 4 of us spread out all over the store. Hard to find each other! I don’t live near a Stews, and only went twice. Maybe I’ll figure it out if I happen to go back when I go up to see my dad.</p>
<p>Speaking of fresh veggies, anyone here belong to a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture)? We have a share in a farm in West Jersey, and pick up fabulous vegetables all summer long (and much of spring and fall) at a house in the next town. We pay up front, and work several shifts at the pickup spot. The farm also sponsors several member get-togethers and optional work days, which are great ways for kids to understand where food comes from. I really like supporting a local farmer, and the quality and variety can’t be beat! Pound for pound, it’s very economical, too. We are really fortunate to have this available in our area.</p>
<p>trip report: Went to fresh market. Upscale stuff, upscale prices. People were very friendly, looks clean and nice. I’m sure I’ll be a good customer because it’s close and has some of the stuff I like to buy but it’s no TJ’s. Good news is that while I was there I saw a friend who told me about ANOTHER TJ’s (still about an hour away) in NJ that might be easier to get to then the PA ones. Garland, the CSA sounds great!</p>