Part of the spoiled-brat bunch checking in. There are two TJs, each 20-30 minutes from the gardentraveler residence. Didn’t actually visit the first store until it had been here for about a year. I’ve been hooked ever since.
Some of my favorites that haven’t (I think) been mentioned: 1) excellent frozen veggies (haricots verts, peas, asparagus) - always fresh, and 2) tasty frozen tamales (I like the cheese & green chile variety because they’re cumin-free like the tamales I’m used to from Mexico City). Seems like I find something new every time.
Nearest TJs’ to you is in Springfield, VA. Sorry about that.
They seem to have decided to take things a region at a time. They started off in California, then spread to the rest of the West Coast. Then they went for the Northeast and Midwest; it looks like they’re going to do a bit more infilling in those parts of the country before moving south. I think they like making efficient use of their distribution networks; no matter how good the FL cities might be, they aren’t going to open a few stores that are hundreds of miles from the rest of the chain. It might be 5-10 years before you see them in Florida.
Oh, dear Gods, how I miss Trader Joe’s. Their cool fruits (I got champagne grapes once), delicious meat selections, wonderful prepared frozen dinners, and most of all, their chocolate peanut butter cups. Makes Reese’s look like a crackwhore’s dinner.
I own a TJ’s canvas bag, purchased before I moved back to Dallas. Every now and then, someone will recognize it, grab me by the shoulders and scream “OH, MY GOD IS THERE ONE HERE?!” And I have to pry them off and explain that no, the bag was purchased in Temecula, far, far from here.
Yay! We just got a TJ’s here in Cincy a couple of weeks ago. I’m sooooo happy seeing as how I never make my annual trips to CA anymore. Now I can gorge myself on TJ Cappuccino Truffles to my heart’s delight. And now I don’t have to bring an extra suitcase.
Can I just say, I love you Trader Joe’s. You are so grand and all, but it’s really not necessary to ring the damn every five minutes is it? Please don’t startle me out of my hash-induced fixation on all your yummy vittles.
And to all you other Cincinnati shoppers who are only now discovering the glory that is Trader Joe’s: I SAW IT FIRST!!! Get outta my way!
I can not wait to go to Trader Joes. Cinnamon Girl, please don’t shove me out of the way when I get there. I promise I’ll be nice and polite and won’t take all of something off the shelves!
But I have my shopping list compiled from the things listed here and from the Weight Watcher’s site where TJs is like the Holy Grail of low “points” foods.
So, if you hit the Kenwood TJs and see a short round woman with a really tall guy who looks like he’d rather eat nails than be shopping with her…come on over and say hi. It’s most likely me.
I suspect your really tall guy will actually enjoy his trip to TJ’s. They have a nice wine selection (wish they would improve the beer selection though) and really interesting stuff. It’s not your usual grocery shopping experience. Just send him over to the free samples and coffee. The sample girls are real cute and sweet. The coffee is delicious!
The downside is that it’s crowded beyond belief right now. Norwegian Blue made it there before me within a few days of opening and had to leave because he was feeling claustrophobic. It’s way too small for that many people. Doesn’t anyone have jobs around here?
In any event, if your really tall guy decides not to make the second trip, email me and we’ll go together (I work evenings only). TJ’s is especially fun with a friend. It’s not like a need an excuse to go. Really. I don’t!
Love love love TJ’s. We have one 15 minutes away from my house. Hooray for Chicago suburbs! My roommate curses me out every time I go home and don’t go to TJ’s. (She’s from central IL and we don’t have any around school).
I think he will enjoy it once he gets there. He just hates crowds and says that I take too long when I’m shopping. But really, if you don’t look at EVERYTHING then how do you know you’re not missing something?
Why thank you! I will perhaps take you up on that one day!
Hey, nothin’ to it. You might end up being the first doper I meet IRL. I’m already looking forward to it! We have a Wild Oats too, ya know! I’m thinking yummy-goodness Spring DopeFest.
I love, love, love Trader Joe’s, and have been needing to go sometime in the near future. Time to stock up on Almond Butter, their All-Fruit Jams, organic yogurt, good butter at nearly half the price of the chain markets, marinated mozzarella, and their excellent breads. I’ve been having cravings for carrot cake as of late, but their Carrot-Zucchini bread is an excellent, healthy alternative for that.
If I’m feeling naughty, I might buy a box of their Dulce de Leche Chocolates, too. Those things are sinful.
I never knew this. It is about a mile from my elementary school. Wooooo!
I would like to thank the OP for bring this to my attention.
I shall now drive down there, blowing a tank of gas into the ozone layer and take advantage of the hemp fueled air system that is purported to be utilized in this place and probably buy a bunch of stuff that I don’t need and cannot afford at this moment. To whom shall I send the bill too?
Are there any anywhere near the Niagara border? I know about the store locator, but I don’t know the names of any small N.Y. towns, and I have no idea which ones are closest to Canada.
My best friend says she’s doing all her Christmas shopping at TJs. I want Triple Ginger Thins, big chocolate bars, and all sorts of dried cherries.
Maybe we’ll go back down to visit in the Spring, and I can shop there again. This time, I’ll bring more money.
Oh, sure, now they’ve got a new store in Cincinnati that would’ve been practically in my backyard. But still no stores in or scheduled to go in Florida. Don’t you love us, Trader Joe? Maybe we FloriDopers should get together and buy a franchise or get them to open a branch, whichever they do (it’s not clear from their website
Okay, I found info hidden in their employment section. They internally fund (don’t franchise) all of their own growth with no debt. So it doesn’t look good for Florida anytime soon.
