superspaceboy said:

kinda sorta. it's a long convoluted story involving a failing vineyard and a marketing guru. I think they are the exclusive vendors. There was an interesting 20/20 or Dateline piece about it last year.

CanvasBeauty said:

This is their Mission Statement:


Our Mission...
At Trader Joe's, our mission is to bring our customers the best food and beverage values and the information to make informed buying decisions. There are more than 2000 unique grocery items in our label, all at honest everyday low prices. We work hard at buying things right: Our buyers travel the world searching for new items and we work with a variety of suppliers who make interesting products for us, many of them exclusive to Trader Joe’s. All our private label products have their own "angle," i.e., vegetarian, Kosher, organic or just plain decadent, and all have minimally processed ingredients.

superspaceboy said:

We do have Whole Foods in MPLS. But it's WAAAAY overpriced and poorly located. It's in some f-ed up High-End-Strip-Mall on the outskirts of Uptown. Right in between 2 major roads so it's impossible to get in and out of. If that's not enough, the clientele is 90% yuppy. I make myself go there every few months, but that's about it.

at Rainbow Grocery. We have a chain here called Rainbow Foods (I actually worked there for 4 years) and it's sooooo not the Rainbow you are talkin about!

All that being said, I do live a titch over a mile away from a decent co-op. Lotsa dirty boys shop there. It's nice

sag10 said:

it's literally the best marktet I ever shopped - it's the happioest place on earth!

madartista said:

Apple Market ...on Polk I think. It's a good one and right by my house.

Anxiety said:

I know they sell meat. But do you see one of these opening up in places where there are no vegetarians or people who actually care about the food they eat and where it comes from.

superspaceboy said:

we have at least three in chicago, and i know it's a big city and all, but this is a city that loves its meat, what with all its bratwursts and whatnot.

Anxiety said:

That is true...but it is a major city, with a lot of people who LOVE to cook. And how many do you suppose would be in...lessay Indiana? Like Gary or somethin? It's more of a store for major cities IMO.

yeah, i know what you're saying. but i can see TJs becoming the next gap or starbuck's in the next few years. still an urban thing, but hopefully way more accessible for more folks.

meanwhile, i have to mention how freakin' EVIL good their peanut butter cups are. they come in a big ol' tub, and they put reese's to shame. and i LOVE reese's cups.

Anxiety said:

Their peanut butter buckeyes are awesome too!

Whole Foods is the biggest ripoff ever though I love their whole wheat bread, nice & thick

TJ staples:

Mango Lemonade
Spiced Cider

veggie meat patties
smoked salmon
frozen pizza (sun dried tomato, feta & olives )
mushroom risotto
wheat pasta
garlic mayo
wasabi mayo
cranberry dijon
red pepper spread
cooking spray

chocolate cherries
"way more chocolate" chips cookies

I gotta start getting my produce there

superspaceboy said:

No -- it was an unusual name -- maybe Italian sounding? I'll ask my friend.

CalhounSq said:

ooh, and their sweet and sour sauce is really REALLY yummy, too.

My sister shops there and once in a while I come with and buy a few things. It's nice every once in a while to pick up some goodies but I couldn't imagine diong my regular shopping there. I'm addicted to the chains and their sales although Trader Joes is surpringsly good with their prices (I was expecting to be robbed when I went there but it was OK).

Talking about Trader Joes, I still have a bottle of salad dressing from there that I bought when the store here opened last year. It probably isn't good anymore, is it?

Anxiety said:

Anx...have you ever bought produce there? I haven't...well, I did buy a few blood oranges, but their other stuff never looked that fresh to me.

CanvasBeauty said:

Sure she was!!!!!

althom said:

Stop perverting my kitty cat!

CalhounSq said:

Whole Foods sucks becuase they opened one in Ann Arbor and for some reason, I have the biggest problem with people that are turning into there or coming out of there. Their just idiots. They basically rebuilt a huge strip mall with really cool stores including Panera Bread (which I just went to today...an excellent lunch) and you can barely find parking there because everyone is parking around there to go to Whole Foods. Whole Foods is nothing but trouble! And thanks for your grocery list. I'll check for some of those things next time I go to TJs.

CalhounSq said:

Hmm.... I may have to check out that bread!!!!

VinnyM27 said:

Is there a TJs in Ann Arbor? I go to the one in Royal Oak.

althom said:

Yes, she sure was LAYING the pillow. I wonder if it was good for the pillow????

madartista said:

Stop turning my kitty into a harlot!! You two are PRE-VERTS!
[Edited 12/3/04 0:09am]

CanvasBeauty said:

nah. the one by me doesn't have that great of stuff, though their tofu blocks are over a dollar cheaper at TJs than at my local mega-grocery.

Anxiety said:

Their prices are so good that it almost gives me an orgasm. I've saved over a dollar on lots of stuff buying it there instead of at the health food store.

I truly appreciate Trader Joe's... now they are booming with Sunflowers and Sprouts as well. Hot tamale! Whole foods is a thing of the past here in Phoenix, AZ. ~Smile.

Anxiety said:

I'm surprised I've never tried it since I seem to buy 50 sauces every time I'm in there I'll have to try it

CanvasBeauty said:

WHOA, really? Maybe I WON'T start buying my produce there

madartista said:

It's really good... makes me want a sammich right now

VinnyM27 said:

It really is



The wasabi mayo & cranberry dijon are KILLER

CanvasBeauty said:

I think it opened up early this year. Anyway, it's new but yeah, it's here.