The power of Trader Joe's

[Jenise]

A friend recently spoke to legendary California winemaker Lane Tanner, who confided that she sold 100% of her eponymously named wine production last year to Trader Joe's. The heck with marketing and competing to get restaurants to buy and list her notoriously long-lived wines, she just went for the check. Interesting times when a winemaker of her stature does that.

Times are tough.

Funny, I would never expect to see anything as decent as Lane Tanner at our TJ here in NJ. It must be the west coast shops that get all the good stuff, ours seem to mostly sell dreck (but everyone still thinks they are getting a bargain, because of the 2 buck chuck thing).

It must be the west coast shops that get all the good stuff, ours seem to mostly sell dreck (but everyone still thinks they are getting a bargain, because of the 2 buck chuck thing).

At least your TJs sell wine!

[Robin Garr]

At least your TJs sell wine!

You have a TJs?

It must be the west coast shops that get all the good stuff, ours seem to mostly sell dreck (but everyone still thinks they are getting a bargain, because of the 2 buck chuck thing).

At least your TJs sell wine!

Actually, NJ is very stingy with licences so only one TJs in my area sells wine. On the other hand, this does make it possible for a lot of great BYO restaurants.

I was shocked and disappointed to see in the most recent "Wine Spectator" (or possible it was in "Wine Enthusiast") that Wynn's Coonawarra wines are no longer imported to the USA. Wynn's Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon was a great QPR from Australia and I bought a few bottles of the premium John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon as well.

If you view the "Wine Spectator" restaurant issue, Sarig and Nancy Agasi are featured prominently in reference to Zely & Ritz Restaurant in Raleigh. The Agasis are co-owners with Richard Holcomb--Sarig is chef, Nancy does the wine buying, and Richard is owner of Coon Rock Farm that supplies much of the produce used at the restaurant.

Actually, NJ is very stingy with licences so only one TJs in my area sells wine. On the other hand, this does make it possible for a lot of great BYO restaurants.

Once again I'm reminded of how poorly Maryland has treated this issue - Very few if any BYOB restaurants and no TJs, Costsos, Safeways or other outlets sell beer or wine.

At least your TJs sell wine!

You have a TJs?

The closest is in Tyngsboro, MA. They are also in Peabody and Burlington, MA. They can't sell alcohol because of MA laws that restrict sales to stores that don't sell anything else; as I understand it.

MA laws that restrict sales to stores that don't sell anything else; as I understand it.

There are undoubtedly MA laws that restrict the sale of alcohol in all kinds of annoying ways. But that can't be it.

These are two shops with good wine and food selections:
http://www.formaggiokitchen.com/
http://www.thewineandcheesecask.com/

Heard a lot about Trader Joe's... never been in one.

I was interested to learn last week that it is an ALDI store.

ALDI are the privately owned German no-frills, restricted lines, cheapo prices, supermarket chain.

Trader Joe's has always sounded rather rakish to me but ALDI is naff.

Peter: we have Aldi stores too, but they are not located in the same areas as the TJ's demographic! I knew about the Aldi connection. The TJs around here are not actually very slick - they give off a slight aging hippie vibe. Many of the private label packaged items are great QPR, but not so hot for fruits/veg.

MA laws that restrict sales to stores that don't sell anything else; as I understand it.

There are undoubtedly MA laws that restrict the sale of alcohol in all kinds of annoying ways. But that can't be it.

Actually, I think Carl is correct, broadly typing. Chain grocery stores in Massachusetts are limited to three locations statewide where they can sell alcohol on their shelves. Some convenience stores sell beer, if memory serves, but, in general the law shunts alcohol sales toward package stores that sell mainly alcohol.

Massachusetts voters rejected a 2006 ballot proposition to allow wine sales in grocery stores.

Chain grocery stores in Massachusetts are limited to three locations statewide where they can sell alcohol on their shelves..

So for chains like Formaggio Kitchen that only have two locations in Mass this is not a problem?

[Jenise]

Peter, Aldi didn't give birth to Trader Joe's, Aldi just bought a very successful company already working quite well as the concept that Joe described. Btw, the aging hippie vibe was it's second iteration. Originally, it was more of a gourmet bachelor kind of place where you could drop in, buy a great prime steak out of a fresh meat case, a bottle of imported wine, and something to make a salad and a few hors d'ouvres out of.

Jenise, so under what label will the wine come out as?

Actually, NJ is very stingy with licences so only one TJs in my area sells wine. On the other hand, this does make it possible for a lot of great BYO restaurants.

Once again I'm reminded of how poorly Maryland has treated this issue - Very few if any BYOB restaurants and no TJs, Costsos, Safeways or other outlets sell beer or wine.

Surprisingly, the Shopper's Food Warehouse in Germantown MD (Clopper's Mill) sells wine. It's the standard, mass-market stuff though. And they still are more expensive that the state liquor store.

[Jenise]

Jenise, so under what label will the wine come out as?

I thought it was under her label, not bulk juice. I might have misunderstood though. I'll ask my friend for clarification--they're personal friends and he heard whatever it was direct from her.

[Robin Garr]

Trader Joe's has always sounded rather rakish to me but ALDI is naff.

Mind repeating that in ... English?

Chain grocery stores in Massachusetts are limited to three locations statewide where they can sell alcohol on their shelves..

So for chains like Formaggio Kitchen that only have two locations in Mass this is not a problem?

Not entirely sure, but presumably--not sure if they're a grocery under the regs.

I think Aldi and TJs share some ownership, but Aldi doesn't directly own TJs.

Locally we have no wine at our TJs -NY laws currently restrict wine/liquor to one store per owner, with no other products. TJs has one wine store, next to its Manhattan location, but it is actually a separate store (you have to go outside the grocery to enter the wine store). I've never been. Some folks have played with that NY law (Stew Leonards has separate wine stores in Yonkers and LI next to the groceries, but Stew Jr owns one and his sister other; Garnet and Gotham are same family, Varmax and place in Mamaroneck are I think cousins)

I shop at local TJs about once a month. Good source from both quality and price standpoint for things like quinoa, nuts, enviromentally friendly cleaning supplies, dairy, pasta, snacks. Good flower prices (nice $19 orchids!) Some good charcuterie items, mixed on meats. It's the only place I buy prepared frozen food (the Tarte d'Alsace is an addiction, though I haven't been in a couple months). While I like the other dairy, the cheese selection is usually in good condition, but a little boring. I find their breads (other than flatbreads/pita) terrible. And really don't buy any produce there.

Our local Trader Joe's (Massachusetts) doesn't stock wine, alas.

-Paul W.

Our local Trader Joe's (Massachusetts) doesn't stock wine, alas.

-Paul W.

Paul,

I know only two locations of the three Trade Joes that sell wine in MA. One is at Coolidge Corner (Harvard and Beacon) in Brookline MA and the other is in Natick on Route 9 just west of Shopper's world/Natick Mall area (1 mile west).

Mike

Dale:

Some folks have played with that NY law (Stew Leonards has separate wine stores in Yonkers and LI next to the groceries, but Stew Jr owns one and his sister other; Garnet and Gotham are same family, Varmax and place in Mamaroneck are I think cousins)

Wegman's plays the same game in upstate NY. Rumor says the family cat is in line to get the next one.

More or less on topic, I don't know if people here realize Theo Albrecht, secretive billionaire owner of TJ's and part-owner (I think) of Aldi died just a couple of weeks ago. It will be interesting to see if that means changes for either down the line. I'd guess not since the corporate entities are big enough to coast on inertia...