<p>Are most of the stores similar in size and products that they carry? I have only been to one and loved it, but can access several others with a longer drive. I was wondering if it is worth it. I know Whole Foods stores can really vary in size and selection.</p>
<p>I’m in Southern California, our Trader Joe’s tend to be very similar in size and products. The exception might be the store across from UCI, that one seems larger, but I’ve only been there a few times.</p>
<p>I’ve been shopping at Trader Joe’s since they only sold cheese and vitamins, but to answer your question, here in Southern California they are about the same. (I currently shop at three different TJ’S, depending on where I am when I do my errands.) I think they use crowded aisles and inadequate parking to keep the prices low, but I love them anyway.</p>
<p>The one near me is smaller than than the new one that opened up about five miles away. I also think it’s smaller than the one near my office. I’m also in SoCal – I just think the one near me is an older one and is locked in by the size of the space.</p>
<p>There are three that I have been to in my area and they are the same and carry the same products, so it isn’t necessary to travel to the other one to find anything different.</p>
<p>ditto mimk6</p>
<p>I generally shop at a small, older store near my home. Went to a larger, newer store recently. Though the aisles were wider, it seemed the selection was the same. And the parking lot was even worse than the older store!</p>
<p>I have been to a couple in different states. They seem to carry the same products. The smaller stores definitely have narrower aisles.</p>
<p>I have 3 within reasonable distance, and they all have the same stuff. Go to the closest one.</p>
<p>I moved across the country from Southern CA for school this year, and even the ones over here stock pretty much the exact same things as the stores in CA. There is one thing they don’t seem to carry that is very sad for me - their cinnamon swirl bread :drool: hasn’t made it to the east coast for some reason…</p>
<p>I’ve seen a difference. They do have some smaller stores which have less variety. Smaller stores have fewer cheeses and salad mixes for example at my parent’s different stores in Socal.</p>
<p>A quick call to a regional manager should tell you if there’s a difference in your area.</p>
<p>the only thing that I found is different is in some of the fresh bakery products. the wonderful croissants found in LA are no longer made by the NCal baker[ sob!]</p>
<p>One of the main difference is pure aesthetics. One of the cool things about Trader Joe’s is that each store has its own paid artist on staff. So each store will have some different character based on the artistic whims of this employee. I do not know any other retail business that has art employees.</p>
<p>The four closest to me all carry the same products. The size of the stores themselves and the layouts vary, though.</p>
<p>I’m pretty sure Redondo Dave and I shop at the same Trader Joe’s. :)</p>
<p>They vary in size. The one in Brookline on Beacon St is a fairly large one.</p>
<p>The ones in NY don’t carry wine (except I am told one store in NYC). But the two near us are very similar. They don’t have terribly narrow aisles. The parking is inadequate on Saturdays, but fine during the week.</p>
<p>According to my kids, the new one in Nashville also doesn’t carry wine.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. The ones I would be shopping in are the Chicago area ones. They are probably all fairly new and similar.</p>
<p>I usually go to a small one in the city, but once stopped by a larger suburban one for some serious shopping, where I was looking for, and bought, several items I’d never purchased before. But I found all of them in the smaller one next time I was there.</p>