Lucky, lucky girl! When I lived in CT, there was a great one in my town. Now the nearest one, according to the website, is 175 miles away. However, I have a Wegman's in the next town over, so I will survive.

Enjoy the shopping in '11!

Thank You! Yes, our closest is St. Louis, four hours from here. I have a habit of stocking up in every town there is one, but will be so glad I won't have to now. There's only so much pantry space you know! Not only that, I'll finally get to take advantage of the frozen food section, which I've never been able to do before.

I'm grinning from ear to ear.

Oh man, I am writhing in jealousy. Congrats!!

Clair you are so lucky, do you live in Illinois and how did you find out about them opening? I live in Central Illinois...in the corn fields....but I'm 2 1/2 hours from St. Louis. Lucky Lucky you!

Trader Joes is coming to Kansas City. There's been a Facebook campaign for TJ's to come to Omaha, which I'd heard about. (Apparently the campaign worked well enough, Kansas City did the same thing. It just seemed odd to so many people they would choose Omaha over Kansas City!) It helps they are covering Missouri and Kansas with the opening of these two stores.

One of the places they are moving into is an old mall built in the 1970's that had gone to seed. It's ''reseeded'' and finally has some new architecture, and some better discount stores like Target and TJ Maxx. I'm happy to see this happening in older neighborhoods that still need good shopping. Earlier this month in the same mall, we also got a Five Guys, which was great news. I eat those about once a week (only half a burger at a time, so I guess my burger fix lasts two days!) but they are the best burgers in town. It's so nice to have something you actually want to ''take-out'' that's close to home!

Yahoo!

I'm so spoiled here that I can choose between 4 TJs close enough to me. I've been going to the brand new, larger one -- more variety! New! Big!

Wow Gina, You ARE spoiled! I'm all about options. It's great to finally look forward to having some!

Good for you, CDL! We have a few and all about an hour or so from me, so I don't get to them often. But at least I have the option!

You will love having them nearby!

Linda

Good for you Claire! You know what that means...you will have to bring a charity bag to me when come.

BTW, Fortune magazine had an article (with reference on the cover) about TJ's

Here is a link that might be useful: Trader Joe's Article

Congratulations! I just found out today we will have one by the beginning of next year in Portland,Maine!! That's only a 20 minute ride or so from home!

Oh Yay, indicanoe! I'm so happy for us!

Cathy, Just make me a list, if you know what you'd like! I'm happy to do a little shopping for you (or a lot, if you have special requests!)

"Posted by jojoco --------------Lucky, lucky girl! When I lived in CT, there was a great one in my town. - ---------"

And what about Stew Leonard's?!! What an incredible place!

dcarch

I am so jealous of all you lucky people who have TJ's. As far as I know the only ones in TN are in the Nashville area. But that brings up a question that is totally off topic. I encountered a link to see all the locations in Tn and it asked for my cell phone number. I just clicked out of it but the thing is, this is not the first time I have encountered that. Has anyone else, and does anyone know why that occurs?

jude

I am jealous also! I think the nearest one to me is 4 to 5 hours away, in the Dallas area. We were in Santa Fe, New Mexico a few months ago and I saw a Traders Joes and wanted so bad to stop, but we had another couple with us and I knew they wouldn't enjoy that and I didn't want to be rushed either.

Good for you, Kathy!

indicanoe, That's wonderful news about a TJ's in Portland. I'd be at the midpoint between that one and the one in Danvers, MA. But I'd be more apt to drive to Portland. I still find it scary driving in & around Boston. Where did you hear this news? Do you have any idea where it will be in Portland?

Really glad for the OP, too!

I heard this info from a local forum I frequent and then confirmed it on the website myself! The Trader Joe's will be located on Marginal Way in Portland, they are hiring this week. I am trying to convince DH this will be the perfect part-time job while he finishes up his degree, and while we welcome our little girl into the world. 10% discount off groceries? Okay!!

I have one here in my town in New Jersey. Watch out!! It WILL become an addiction!!

Congratulations!! I am GREEN with envy!! Have fun shopping!!!

I haven't experienced that Jude, but I wouldn't give any website that information. In fact, when anyone in a store asks for my phone number, I just tell them I don't give it out.

dcarch, I've never been to Stew Leonard's. Now I want to go.

Karen, You were Right There and couldn't go IN? I'm so sorry!

May, it sounds like you have some great food shopping where you live. It hasn't happened yet, so don't be envious. (Although if anyone wants to visit me in Kansas City in the future, I'll know where to take you. We have Penzey's too!)

Thanks CdL, that's swhat I thought.

jude

You're right! We do have some great shopping here. Penzey's, Central Market, Phoenecia. Whole foods too although I seldom shop there. But I can't help it. I want it all!! (greed is good?) LOL!!

"Posted by claire_de_luna -------- dcarch, I've never been to Stew Leonard's. Now I want to go. -----"

You must. It's not like any food place you have gone to.

Go with young kids. They will reaaly enjoy the experience too.

dcarch

We'll never get a Trader Joe's anywhere close to here, there's no real life north of Detroit, you know. (sigh)

Claire, when cashiers ask for my phone number I tell them that if they dare to call me, I'll track them down and b*tch them to death!

Annie

What is your impression of the bread sold at Trader Joe's?

I find it to always taste stale. I like so many of their other products and the produce is fresh and priced right. But I am totally unimpressed by the bread however.

I will say that within two blocks of my house are a Jewish Bakery, a Russian Bakery. And I also shop at the Wedge Coop which bakes multiple types of wonderful bread everyday so this might not be a very fair comparison.

I've had good bread from there. The last really memorable one was their Pretzel bread, but I was in Chicago, which kind of makes sense!

TJ's is scheduled to open the first week in November in the old Wild Oats building.That is if all goes well.Indicanoe feel free to email me, I have worked at a TJ's for 5 years.They are a great company to work for.

Like Gina, I am surrounded by TJ's, and I've started going there more often. My previous complaints were the long lines and crowded aisles, but I've gotten over that.

As for bread, I'm very impressed with what I get there. It's not La Brea Bakery, but they have some very interesting choices. Last Saturday I bought WW Nan bread in addition to WW tortillas, both of which are excellent. In fact, TJ's by far has the best flour tortillas of any market I've been to lately, although I do plan to visit a small local tortilla place if I can remember to go there before 3:00 PM. Tortillas from TJ's must be refrigerated after opening because they have no preservatives, and I store them in vacuum sealed bags with a small piece of parchment paper between them so that they don't stick. They stay very fresh this way. BTW, I used the nan bread for garlic toast on the grill. Each piece was about the size and shape of a shoe sole insert, and they were fairly thick - at least thick enough to grill.

Lars

That's good to know Lars. I'm saving your comments for the future, and will be trying it all as soon as I can!

I also got some good bread at TJ's in Chicago when I was visiting Peppi, a kind of seeded bread. We had it with Elery's home smoked pastramia and a chunk of TJ's dubliner cheese and it was very nice.

Annie

We've got one about 5 miles away...but Whole Foods is closer!!! Love that store!!!

Linda

I've been to TJ's a few times but I don't see the attraction. Definitely not a store you can get everything you need so it's not a one stop. Yes, 3buckChuck is OK, but I'm not a big wine drinker. They have a good macadamia nut carmel corn but Kmart has comparable so I guess I just haven't found the deals others have.

Glad your happy they're coming and happy shopping. Maybe I'll figure out what the big deal is! Keep us posted what you find there.

Claire de luna,

I am so excited for you!! The one in Omaha is opening November 13th and the one in Lincoln is opening in December. The one in St. Louis was the closest one to us too, but am excited to see 2 in KC. Where in Kansas are you at?? I am in the middle of Nebraska. Us midwesterners have to stick together.

Stacie

Stacie, when I heard about the Omaha store, I didn't think that was quite fair! Then, I read KC was getting their own, which made me feel much better, and even more so when I realized how close it was going to be. I'm in Leawood, just west of State Line. Happy Trader Joes to You!