Trader Joe's

[isilzha]

Recently a Trader Joe's opened up not too far from my house. We've been there a couple of times and are we're impressed with the store. We thought that it would be very expensive, but somethings there are actually quite reasonable. Its actually not that far from a Whole Foods, maybe about a block and a half away. I wonder if they are taking customers from each other or not. Does anyone else shop at Trader Joe's?

[Food Network Fan]

I do when we go where they have one. Wine is very well priced there.

[bakerman]

I have found that Trader Joe's is a great bridge between the grocery store and whole foods. I too find their prices to be quite reasonable.

One thing that I wish was that they carried a more consistent variety, it seems that I find something I like and can only find it once.

Some of their greatest bargains are cheese and wine, they often have cheese 40-50% less expensive than our local grocery stores for the same brands. Many just rave over their Charles Shaw wine affectionately known as "two buck chuck" here it is $2.99 but I have heard that on the west coast it is $2.

Ours is a madhouse on the weekends, I stay away on saturdays.

[Food Network Fan]

I can never get the cheese, I am always traveling if I shop at one.

[isilzha]

They have a tiny card section there also, but I bought two nice looking Thankyou cards for $.99 each. Which I keep forgetting to send and I feel like a jerk.

[BerryBaby]

LOVE TJ's....I was just there yesterday. Yes, their cheese prices are amazing. That's the only place I buy my parmesan.

Wines are great...I don't think the Two Buck Chuck is $2.00 out here. Think that increased not long ago. I never buy it. I had it at a wedding and wasn't all that impressed. I go for their Chianti's and other Italian wines.

I also shop at Whole Foods, for different items. They both have things that we enjoy but can only get at their stores.

Has anyone tried TJ's Italian Blend whole bean coffee? It's very good!

[isilzha]

Do any of the Trader Joe's have a salad bar? My Mom says that is the only thing they are missing.

[Pluff Mudder]

No Trader Joe's here. None in the whole state of SC. Closest ones for me are in Charlotte, NC and Atlanta, GA. I'm surprised that Charleston has not gotten one since we do have a Whole Foods.

[BerryBaby]

No salad bar, but already freshly, prepared salads. They look really good, but since I'm home and not working, I make my own.