# Trader Joe's opening store in LR. What should I try first? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 15, 2019, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808 "2019-10-15T17:37:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/61 "2019-10-16T03:46:12Z")
Of the 5 TJ’s I’ve been to, none has a particularly small parking lot. One has a vast one as TJ’s took the place of a shuttered supermarket at that location. One thing to remember is they are comparatively small stores without a huge number of products and you get in and out pretty quickly, so the turnover in the parking lot is pretty quick. The Pound Plus dark chocolate bars are excellent quality, and very cheap (I believe someone else upthread mentioned this). The milk chocolate is awful, though, imo. ---
**Author:** ![Periwinkle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Periwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Periwinkle)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/62 "2019-10-16T04:25:21Z")
I love their Oatmeal Cranberry Dunkers cookies. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/63 "2019-10-16T09:57:40Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Of the 5 TJ’s I’ve been to, none has a particularly small parking lot. One has a vast one as TJ’s took the place of a shuttered supermarket at that location. One thing to remember is they are comparatively small stores without a huge number of products and you get in and out pretty quickly, so the turnover in the parking lot is pretty quick. > > The Pound Plus dark chocolate bars are excellent quality, and very cheap (I believe someone else upthread mentioned this). The milk chocolate is awful, though, imo. Of the two I’ve been to, both have small, packed parking lots. I can’t imagine that is by design, though. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/64 "2019-10-16T12:15:48Z")
They have a good Port, if you’re into that. Their Chianti and Italian Pinot. They have a good cheese selection. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/65 "2019-10-16T13:14:59Z")
> [@Icarus](#): > > As to their seasonal products, at this time of year it seems that fully 40% of the store is some version of pumpkin flavored. Pumpkin Joe Joe’s and Pumpkin Spice Coffee and Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli. > > [This is their Fearless Flyer!](https://www.traderjoes.com/fearless-flyer) > > And you can get lots of chocolates, lots, I mean lots. FYI, the spiced cider on the most recent flyer is very tasty stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/66 "2019-10-16T13:47:13Z")
The mini peanut-butter-and-dark-chocolate cups. Bliss! But don’t tell Reese’s. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/67 "2019-10-16T13:47:51Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > A good one. Trader Joe’s has a policy of having as small a parking lot as they can, so it’s always hard to find a space. I hadn’t heard this, so I Googled. There were a bunch of webpages that talked about this ([this one](https://www.citylab.com/solutions/2016/03/trader-joes-parking-lots-donald-shoup/475098/), for example). Nothing official from the company, but the speculation seemed to be that the small stores and small parking lots are, in part, to keep the costs down. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/68 "2019-10-16T14:01:03Z")
In our case, it was because they moved into a busy urban street with a small footprint (but did hollow out the basement as a parking ramp, so parking is adequate). I’m sure if they were Wegman’s they could’ve bought an acre out in the 'burbs and had plenty of parking. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/69 "2019-10-16T15:26:52Z")
I agree with the others that say Trader Joe’s isn’t a replacement for a more general purpose grocery, unlike, say, Whole Foods. My own shopping takes me far and wide to grocery stores all over the place but seldom do I go out of my way to TJs. It’s a stop of convenience, when I’m in the area. Meats, produce, cbeese are more expensive than elsewhere. The one thing I _always_ grab is the red jalapeno hot sauce, very good and I’ve not found another like it. Usually, some frozen rice bowls find their way into my basket. It’s the only place I’ve seen tritip locally. I’ve never bought any but the houseplants have turned my head a time or two. The parking lot of my closest store (Park Ridge, Il) is seriously dreadful. Using google to fly over, there are 60 spots for TJs and several other businesses. It’s surrounded by condos & townhouses and I’m sure some use the lot for quick stops. In the winter, plowed snow eats up about 6-8 of the spots, awful. There’s a fairly active Trader Joe’s subreddit. It’s a place for folks to give recommendations (or not) and feedback on products and a good way to get a feel for what’s new or discontinued. > **[r/traderjoes](https://old.reddit.com/r/traderjoes/)** > > r/traderjoes: A subreddit for fans of all things related to TJ's! Not affiliated with Trader Joe's. Please share your favorite TJ's products and … ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/70 "2019-10-16T15:52:13Z")
Their private label Bourbon is pretty good. When it come to “Two buck Chuck”, a friend recommends buying a bottle and trying it out in the parking lot. Then decide whether to go back in to buy a case 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/71 "2019-10-16T17:08:09Z")
Garlic-stuffed Olives! ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/72 "2019-10-16T19:14:49Z")
I have always liked TJ’s beef tamales – they’re inexpensive and go well with their green salsa, which is mild, but is maybe a little saltier than it should be. The green salsa also good with TJ’s blue corn tortilla chips. TJ’s has probably 8 or so different types of canned tuna. The best is the yellow fin tuna. I’m a fin…er, fan. Not a food, but the [pine kitty litter](https://traderjoesrants.wordpress.com/2015/05/03/tj-pine-cat-litter/) is the one that we like more than any other – years of searching. Dried coconut and bananas (not the crunchy banana chips, but the softer kind) are good go-to snacks for us. Humble brag: my mom shopped at the very first TJ’s in South Pasadena, CA, 40-plus years ago. I was like, “This isn’t from Ralphs…” ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/73 "2019-10-16T19:51:03Z")
Wine. Not the Charles Shaw stuff, either. There are a _lot_ of good, drinkable wines at or under $10. The ice cream is pretty good, and I’ll always get some produce so that I’m not checking out with _only_ 12 bottles of wine. They sell packaged fresh meat and cheese, milk, peanut butter, and a couple of other staples, but the vast, vast majority of the space is filled with stuff for people who think cooking and heating-up are the same thing, and junk food. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2019, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/74 "2019-10-16T20:25:33Z")
> [@Moonchild](#): > > I have always liked TJ’s beef tamales Beef tamales, or green chile and cheese tamales…? It’s hard to say which we like better. They’re both good. (Mrs. L.A. does not prefer the sweet corn green chile and cheese ones.) ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/75 "2019-10-17T00:33:11Z")
Our definition of ‘civilization’ is “less than a 90 minute drive to Trader Joe’s and CostCo” and we’ve barely managed that in our last couple homes. We don’t need a lot from TJ’s but what we want, they’ve got. Certain select wines and beers, breads and nut butters, soups and sauces, frozen herbs and entrees. We skip the fast treats and other not-a-deal offerings. I’ll admit we splurged more when a TJ’s was on our daily drive route, before we retired to the boonies. Lunch wraps, mutant tamales, frozen veggie medleys, more than I can recall a couple decades later. But we’ve been hooked on TJ’s since about 1982. We go for quality and value, not kewl vibes. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/76 "2019-10-17T14:59:13Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Garlic-stuffed Olives! Yes! Their stuffed olives are better and cheaper than from any other store. (I like the jalapeno stuffed) Same with olive oil and pasta! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/77 "2019-10-17T16:13:01Z")
I just had a couple of Vampire Slayer garlic cheese curds. Yum. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2019, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/78 "2019-10-17T16:41:40Z")
Montgomery County, MD TJs don’t carry wine or beer (or cider).:mad: ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/79 "2019-10-18T01:41:58Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Trader Joe’s is for treats, not for food. This right here. My recommendation: Peppermint Joe-Joes. They appear around the Holidays and disappear quietly sometime in January. Essentially an Oreo with peppermint flakes in the filling. ---
**Author:** ![Hatchie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hatchie/32/3983_2.png) [@Hatchie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hatchie)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2019, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808/80 "2019-10-18T04:28:01Z")
Two things I don’t recommend: Every one of their pasta sauces is thin and soupy. If you boiled them down to about 50% volume, you’d have a reasonable sauce. Also, peanut butter. Thin and soupy! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trader-joes-opening-store-in-lr-what-should-i-try-first/841808.md?page=5)