“I visited a local TJ’s for the first time awhile back just to find out what all the hype was about. One visit was enough.” ~ TiggerDad
That about sums up TJ’s for me also.
It’s hard for me to get excited about “So-So Joe’s”, when I live within easy driving distance of a 78,000 square foot (sf) Harris-Teeter, a 56,000 sf Publix, a 52,000 sf international supermarket and a 35,000 sf Asian supermarket. Not to mention an Earth Fare and a Sprouts Farmers Market.
Farmer’s market, yes, because you are getting local, fresh, and unique products and helping local farmers and food artisans. Can’t say I feel the same way about TJs.
Besides Costco, I avoid big box grocery shopping. I’ll take a combo of what @deb922 said and add on Costco - which is a big box but a different kind of shopping.
Depends upon the farmers market. I have two homes in different locales Neither farmers market worth frequenting for me. I do better at TJs, Costco, WF, etc. Price not in the picture, though both farmer markets run high in prices. I’d pay plenty more for tastier produce. I grow my own tomatoes and barter and buy from private gardeners. I buy from some of them. Just back yard growers and the fresh vegetables are fantastic. Sometimes I wonder if those Farmer Market sellers don’t just buy their wares from Walmart
One state does double food stamp values for Farmer Market purchases. But only for full price items not half price for what’s left the last hour or so. I won’t even buy at that last reduced price hour. I end up buying certain vegetables from a small Japanese grocery store. I’m spoiled now that it’s just DH and myself. Bought from Costco when the kids were all home
“Sometimes I wonder if those Farmer Market sellers don’t just buy their wares from Walmart”
You must have a lousy farmer’s market because there is no way that the stuff from my market is coming from Walmart. Downside for me is the short growing season.
My local grocery store sells good, local produce during the summer at very reasonable prices.
My local farmer’s market buys items that are shipped in directly off the boat. Other produce is purchase directly from the farmer, or they grow their own.
I have been in the store twice and was not impressed. I live near a few different gourmet markets and they have so much more to offer. I like Aldis better!
@3js3ks that’s what I thought the first time I went with a friend. But I get lots of stuff there every week now. Started by looking through the prepared frozen stuff and gradually added more and more goodies.
On the surface, there is little to buy at TJs. However, the devil is in the details. Otherwise, people in Brooklyn will not line up just to GET INTO the store and with 26 checkout counters.
We shop at Trader Joe’s for a lot of things, it helps that it’s right around the corner. For cleaning products, paper products, etc…we go to Smart and Final (much cheaper!). We also go to Ralph’s and the other local chain store since H likes some things there that you can’t get at TJ’s. Sure, we’ve bought stuff at TJ’s that we’ve hated, but generally we like everything we get! My main problem with our TJ’s, like someone else here mentioned, is that it’s on the small side and when it’s crowded it can be very hard to get around. And don’t even get me started on the parking lot…besides TJ’s there is a movie theatre, Target, Ross, CVS, Ulta, and several other businesses including restaurants. As you can imagine the parking lot is a nightmare on weekends! I usually go on weekday evenings or on a Sunday at like 8 PM.
D and S love the frozen chicken gyoza. S sometimes eats them for breakfast. H and I like them too, though not as much as the kids! H really likes their salmon burgers. And all of us cannot get enough of their feta cheese! I like their bagged spinach.
My D isn’t really a TJ shopper, but she asked me to get Bamba’s peanut snacks for her seven-month-old. Apparently they are THE go-to food for helping babies learn to self-feed while introducing peanut butter at the same time.
Last item out of the freezer from my TJs shopping foray. Another bomb. It’s these peanut butter blondies. I’ll probably throw them out rather than finish them which is very unusual with me and sweet things. Not worth the calories, IMO.
My 22 year old daughter is recently addicted to the peanut butter bombas. Word is you can make a quick satisfying snack by melting chocolate chips and drizzling love the bombas.
We are so spoiled in southern CA. Not only do the grocery stores have good produce, but farmers markets are all local. We had lunch yesterday with one of DH’s friends who used to have a booth at the markets - he brought us fresh picked plums, apricots, and mulberries from his orchard.
