IMO, No.

It's not a full service grocery store but has a lot of good buys and some really nice things. Their store brands are almost always excellent. It's worth going to check it out.

This post was edited by chessey24 on Fri, Nov 14, 14 at 8:09

I love it. Spices are great and really cheap. Good coffee and selection of frozen foods. Probably not the best place for full scale grocery shopping however.

No fresh meats, or butcher.

I don't go often, but really like certain things that I only get there.... and very often try new stuff as well, so it usually takes me longer to shop and check out stuff. Rarely am I disappointed in a TJ product.

I just read in our paper that Trader Joes is owned by Aldi's and is opening up more stores in the area.....I love, love Aldi's, do most of my shopping there......

I do more than half of my shopping there, though their fruit is hit and miss.

There are two "Aldi" companies in Germany, Aldi North and Aldi South. One business was split into two separate companies 50 years ago, with negotiated exclusive regions in Germany and the world for each, the result of a dispute between the two brothers operating a family business.

Trader Joe's was bought from the American founder in 1979 by Aldi North. They took the original ideas and have improved on the niche over and over. Aldi markets in the US are owned by Aldi South. North and South cooperate on some matters but they're otherwise wholly independent companies with separate management and separate ownership.

My TJ's has fresh meat, just no butcher. I go to TJ's every other grocery trip.

My favorite buys:
Herb salad mix (mixed greens with fresh dill in the mix)
Everyday Seasoning (spices in a grinder - I really do use it everyday)
Cracked Wheat Sourdough Bread (my favorite bread of all time! Cheap too!)
Orange Chicken (frozen, 2 sauce packets)
Cheese (their cheeses are better price and better quality than the grocery)
Sparkling Water (much cheaper than grocery)

What I don't like at TJ's:
Dairy - the milk seems to go bad more quickly than the grocery and I don't like their buttermilk.

To me, the highlights of TJs include all their great dairy stuff (milk, yogurt, cheese), prepared foods both fresh and frozen, chocolate bars, frozen fish, munchy cracker and nut stuff, and decent beer and wine selections. There are usually interesting items in the packaged meat department.

TJs carries unusual and quirky items that are not available at other stores. Some of their products, like peanut butter made of only peanuts and salt (what a concept!), are vastly superior to national brands. I agree that produce can sometimes be hit and miss, but a contrasting example is the bagged arugula and kale which are great.

Regular shoppers at Trader Joes will find their eating patterns change, because they'll be eating new and fun things they may have never enjoyed before.

I love Trader Joe's. For me, it's a bonus that they don't have butchers. It meets the majority of my food shopping needs as they have most staples and a wide variety of organic produce, at least in California. Most of the produce is good, but sometimes some of it is less than impressive compared to something like Whole Foods. But it's also significantly less expensive.

They always have interesting new things to try, and a ton of vegetarian frozen convenience food that is still reasonably healthy.

But beyond the food is their customer service. By far the most friendly and helpful staff. I was debating once over two different types of chocolates to buy as a gift, and an employee came over and asked if she could help. I explained my dilemma and asked if she had a preference and to my surprise, she opened both packages right there to let me try them. I asked what happens to the rest of it, as I would have felt bad if it gets trashed just to let me try it, and she said it goes into the back as an employee treat.

I like how they unload the cart for you, and have a no questions asked return policy if you don't like something. They also have great prices on flowers. Our house is full of orchids.

The only negative for me is that it's always so crowded in the evenings and weekends, so I have to choose when I go to avoid being annoyed!

Good prices, too. We buy the low sodium (really low, not 'reduced') tomato soup and chicken broth. Both are about 1/2 the price of similar products at the grocery store.

If you do holiday baking, the selection and price of dried fruits and nuts is outstanding.

I go once or twice a week, and yes they do have fresh packaged meat. Many prices are better than the usual chain groceries. Produce is OK, some organic but not all. The imported cheese is pretty good, but the Trader Joes label, not as good IMO. The stores are smallish, quick to get around, and the checkers are friendly.

Yes, they have several versions of peanut butter reasonably priced, but I don't think it's as tasty as Laura Scudders, which is also just peanuts and maybe salt. They have a reduced sugar jam which is very good and difficult to find anywhere else.

Go!!

There was a long thread about Trader Joe's a couple of months ago. Lots of good feedback at the link shown below.

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

Wow...lots of great feedback.
I will try and get there this afternoon, just to check things out.
It seems like mostly non necessities are the things most people get. Well, besides Chi83 and other vegetarians.

Thank you so much for all the info. Trader Joes just opened a store here in Colorado Springs, and I've kind of been waiting until the "hype" died down before going. The first weekend, there were lines out the door!