The power of Trader Joe's

I'm guessing that Lane Tanner isn't the only one off-loading to TJ's these days. Over the last month or so, we've had a Rutherford cab, a Dry Creek cab, and a Rutherford Meritage, all from the "Trader Joe's Reserve" label. The Rutherford cab was absolutely excellent - textbook Napa cab that would easily compete at the $40/bottle level. The Meritage and the Dry Creek weren't quite as much to our liking but close. And all came in at $10.99/bottle.

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.

Thanks, David - this is a surprise. I think I can manage a drive through Germantown on my way home one day soon, David.

I would expect Lane to meet her wine club customer orders before selling to TJ. Also, is TJ selling LT under the LT label? If so, all the single vineyard offerings?

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.

I remember ALDI as being, to be honest, rather awful. At least their private label stuff. This was from a long time ago...for some reason they had a store in Peoria, Illinois during my abortive attempt to study engineering.

[Jenise]

At least your TJs sell wine!

You have a TJs?

If Louisville wants a TJ's, they need to start a letter-writing campaign asking for one. Per the manager of our store, that's how one finally opened here--people here out-begged all other possible locations. And apparently they're glad they listened, it's a top earner in the chain.

[Robin Garr]

If Louisville wants a TJ's, they need to start a letter-writing campaign asking for one. Per the manager of our store, that's how one finally opened here--people here out-begged all other possible locations. And apparently they're glad they listened, it's a top earner in the chain.

I think that's part of our problem. We love our locals so much that we don't push national chains hard to come in here and WalMart our indies unless they just insist on it. I do see people on the LouisvilleHotBytes forums talking about getting in a TJ's, but with outlets in Cincinnati and Indianapolis, it's not that hard to get a fix if you need it. Other than private-brand labels, what's the draw for most people? In my experience they're fun stores but hardly unique. Except maybe for that Two Buck Chuck.

I think that's part of our problem. We love our locals so much that we don't push national chains hard to come in here and WalMart our indies unless they just insist on it. I do see people on the LouisvilleHotBytes forums talking about getting in a TJ's, but with outlets in Cincinnati and Indianapolis, it's not that hard to get a fix if you need it. Other than private-brand labels, what's the draw for most people? In my experience they're fun stores but hardly unique. Except maybe for that Two Buck Chuck.

If you do decide you want to attract TJ's, you'll need to make sure you have a proper location. From what I've seen around here, that means a strip mall or other storefront with parking that is completely inadequate and borderline dangerous. We have one in Sacramento that's nearly impossible to get in or out of. (They actually have a little diorama-version of their lot up on the wall in the store with plastic cars at odd angles that's entitled "Parking Mayhem" or some such.) A year or so ago, they decided not to put one in at a really great location near our house (one with a big parking lot and nearby freeway access) and instead picked a strip mall in Davis. The parking lot for this mall was too small for the existing businesses as it was and some of that's now been lost to the new TJ's. It will be a frustrating mess to try and get in, particularly given the very poor driving skills that seem endemic to Davis.

As for what draws people, I think a lot of it is good party-food. They have all kinds of interesting snack items, decent (but not great) cheeses and cold cuts, and baked goods. All are better than what we get at most chain grocery stores and quite a bit cheaper. The ones here also sell booze at very good prices - everything from cheap-death generic vodka to Campari, Gosling's Black Seal rum, and Hendrick's gin.

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

Also Memorial Drive in Cambridge (same parking lot as MicroCenter)
Charles

Except for some fresh veggies and fruits (which we buy at ridiculously low prices at a Mexican store), virtually all of our shopping is done at TJs and Costco. At both, the quality is good. TJs has lots of interesting items for foodies, and the prices are more than reasonable. And TJs, like Costco, uses the Nordstrom model of customer service. They take anything back, including things you don't actually take back and just tell them there was a problem. It's a bit like a scaled-down Whole Foods without the high prices. If you live somewhere without TJs, Costco, Nordstrom and In-n-Out.. well. .. I feel for ya..

Other than private-brand labels, what's the draw for most people? In my experience they're fun stores but hardly unique.

It's my impression that everybody goes to Trader Joe's for something different. Some are there for the bread, some for the frozen appetizers, some for the dietary supplements. You name it. In my case, over the years, the main draws have been dried fruit, nuts and cheese. And throw in maple syrup and olive oil. Oh, and chocolate for baking. Now that you mention it, maybe there's more than I thought All generally high quality stuff at prices lower, sometimes much lower than your standard grocery stores. And as Mike mentioned, the odd find in the liquor category. It'll sound like a stretch but I can honestly say my life would have been different if Trader Joe's did not exist. I sure would have consumed a lot less Parmigiano Reggiano they hadn't been around.

These days, there are alternatives. The nuts and Parmigiano are available at Costco for Trader Joe's-like prices, at least if you're willing to buy three pounds of walnuts or a pound of Parmigiano. But I can't think of another store that offers a similarly interesting collection of quality stuff at bargain prices. And then there's always the intrigue that comes with knowing you may never see a particular product again. That can be either fun or very annoying, depending on how you look at it.

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

Also Memorial Drive in Cambridge (same parking lot as MicroCenter)
Charles

that be the Massachusetts three I'm guessing! Thanks, I drive by that one a lot but never go in.

Two buck Chucks are THREE bucks in the Trader Joe in New York City (Union Square).