I decided to check out Trader Joe's, recommended by a friend named Joe presently recovering from radiation and chemo treatments. He mentions the place quite a lot. The last time I looked there was only one location at 8th and Colorado and I've been put off by the drive there just for groceries when there are so many great places including three Whole Foods that are closer. But tonight when I checked to reaffirm how I'd get there I noticed a new Trader Joe's just a few blocks away, four blocks south and three blocks east. I can walk there. The thing is, it's tucked in between Grant and Logan and between 6th and 7th. Access from Logan, and Logan is a weird little Capitol Hill street. In that area, Governor's Park, it's three lanes but both outer lanes are devoted to parking so one lane of traffic and there is a lot of traffic. Such a massive pain in the butt. It can be accessed by the alley but that too is a weird little risk. It's tight. It's how they get their delivery by semi, so a parked semi takes half the width. But tonight it worked out well, zip, through the alley, past the semi hugging the building, turn left into the parking lot and, boom, parking space wide open, three handicap spaces right next to the front door. It could not have been more convenient.
Right off the bat, before even leaving my building, Trader Joe's was a great conversation starter. I mentioned I just now discovered it nearby and the woman in the elevator was interested to know that, and the man with her was interested to tell me how to get there by bus.
The place is similar to Whole Foods. Frankly. People are zipping all around. Urban people, mostly young. Everyone younger than myself. Everyone has something to do, some place to go. The first take is a bit intimidating. Judging by vibes they're insulated, isolated, ensconced in their own intense little world, zipping around much faster than I can move. Like they're shopping for dinner and someone is waiting. There is an urgency that I don't care for.
It is not what I expected. There is no deli. No bakery. No meat counter. No specialty section. No bulk bins. Their packaging is odd. Their meat products displayed immediately are not discounted in any way. Their cooled vegetables are all prepackaged in numbers greater than I'm interested in, no rummaging. So you buy three yellow squash, six cucumbers, three packaged romaine lettuce hearts. Whereas the non refrigerated vegetables are piled up on tables. It's not particularly large and the prices are not generally discounted. Then, bananas 19¢ lb. Whole pineapple $2.50.
So it's an odd mix of high and low pricing.
I was wrong about the vibes of the people. My vibe meter misinformed me.
They're beautiful. The women I spoke to are engaging and charming, interested, and interesting, the workers and the shoppers alike. They were simply minding their own business until I spoke to them then they opened right up, immediately as if they were waiting to speak to me. It blows me away how friendly people are.
Three separate workers approached me independently. One young woman loading a freezer looked up and asked me if I'm finding what I need. Others just smiled and acknowledged my existence. They're all busy stocking the shelves. Bees buzzing all over. Every person I encountered was gracious. Nobody was too rushed to speak. My initial assessment was wrong.
They allow dogs. They accommodate dogs outside the store and allow them inside.
I had just walked past frozen chicken pot pies. I mentally compared them with the ones at Tony's nearby. The price was very good but the pies are too large. $8.00 for a larger than single serving pie. Those used to be my favorite things. Tony's pies are around that same price, I think, for a regular size pie that they make themselves right there. At Tony's specialty market whichever pie you buy it's certain to be great. As I passed a young girl came up behind me and began restocking them. I turned back and said, "Those look great but they are a bit big." She smiled and said agreeably, "I know! For three people. What a strange number." Then I thought, what the heck. Just buy one. I can deal with a chicken pot pie that's too big.
The only chiles available are Japanese.
It took a bit of adjusting to their strange Trader Joe's ways. Their displays and their packaging are not what I'm used to seeing. And their pricing seemed a bit high. I never did see dry beans. I kept looking for bags of nuts and finally saw them near the end, the front, actually. Their milk is expensive as organic milk at King Soopers and nobody buys that at King Soopers at double, almost triple, the cost of regular milk.
At the potato chips area I encountered another woman, a bit older, heavier, dressed in dull colored clothing, and a sweater. I asked her, "Ever make your own potato chips?"
How's that for an icebreaker? Huh? Come on, you have to admit that's a bit strange. That's how I roll.
"You get a whole pile from one potato."
Her first words, the sound of her voice, her accent, word choice, enunciation, pronunciation, locution, matched exactly Alona's. She could have been Alona standing there. They sound exactly alike. Same voice. Two words in I knew she is Ukrainian. She told me Trader Joe's is out of her favorite right now but I must watch later in November for their potato chips with Italian truffles.
"Ew, look at you. How elegant."
When she told me she is Ukrainian I thought silently to myself giving no facial indication, I KNOW THAT ALREADY! Then what came out of me was, "Oh?"
"I'm from Ukraine. We're all about potatoes in Ukraine."
That's awesome when you think about it. Potatoes are a New World root. I never thought of an ex Soviet satellite heavily dependent on a Mesoamerican vegetable.
Their checkout is designed for small purchases. There is no conveyor. The tiny young woman in front of me had a full trolly too and she stood there at the small blockish counter like her arms are painted on, like she's helpless, while the cashier bagged up her food. I wondered why she didn't bag them herself as he rang them up. It'd be a lot faster. Some people just don't think of that. It's weird. So when I rolled up I asked the guy, a young man, if it's okay for me to bag them myself as he rings them up. He goes, "Sure." So I did.
I mentioned, "This is my first time here."
He asked, "First time this store, or first time at Trader Joe's?
"This is my first time shopping."
"Shopping anywhere? First time you went grocery shopping? He's playing. I'm always up for extending a joke.
"First time I ever went shopping. First time I talked to a human. First time I ever tried speaking. This whole words coming out of my mouth thing is actually working." Like I'm an alien who just landed on Earth.
"Hey! Since it's your first time here you should have one of our bags." He dashed off to the near wall and picked out a Trader Joe's shopping bag that can be reused."
I always buy a lot more than one bag. And I give those things away. They just now did a study on those and discovered they're loaded with germs from re-use. But I didn't mention that because it would diminish the gift.
Now I got one of those stupid ass germ-ridden reusable bags.
It's a cool place. They do have unique things. You could live out of Trader Joe's shopping, but here in Denver, King Soopers, Safeway, Albertson's are all still considerably better with much broader choices.
I bought a bunch of stupid crap like potato chips, Cheetos puffed corn snacks, chocolate covered nougat wafers. But everything else was healthful. Real food. Except for the 3-person chicken pot pie.
But no Cokes.
Just like Whole Foods. What's with all these antiCokeites? It's a movement against sugary fizzy drinks.
Back home before I unloaded my little-old-man cart, I put on my backpack and went straight down to the bottle shop for a 12-pack of Cokes. I'm well recognized in there now. Lurch greets me pleasantly, differently, like he has a new girlfriend or something. I notice a black dude, a very black dude, wearing a fedora at the edge of the counter, his back to me, rustling through small bottles on a shelf. I do my usual thing, get the 12-pack at the end of the space and return. They don't hassle me about not removing my backpack because I'm special. The black guy is now facing me and he turns out to be an acquaintance who just started working there. It's Dexter. Right in front of Lurch, Dexter talks about wanting to arrange a photography session. And I think, see, this is the side benefit of staying put in a place longer than just a few years, and putting yourself out there. Making a point of speaking to people. Doing things for people. It's something I hadn't learned until now. This late in life.
I welcome your thoughts on Trader Joe's. I think there is something I'm missing.
20 comments:
I was in a Trader Joe's only once Chip. I was on business in Phoenix [I think] and wanted a snack. I went in and had trouble finding a plain old regular small bag of potato chips. I remember this experience because I bumped into Sandra Day O'Connor on my way out. I said hi Judge and she said hi back to me.
There's a bit of virtue signaling, but a different kind than at Whole Foods. Lots of granola birkenstock ladies pushing carts. And the quality of some of their stuff is questionable, like their maple syrup, and strange wines.
The primeval force bars are great, however, (bread section). They also give me the farts, which may be how they got their name.
I dislike Trader Joe's and Whole food. Out West is a chain called Sprout's..used to be Henry's. I love the place. When we moved to the Twin Cities a year ago I walked into a store called Fresh Thyme, I know..hokey. But inside it looked JUST like Sprout's. A little research determined they're owned by the same company. Just as good, except for the seafood.
Trader Joe's is definitely not Whole Foods. You do however need to know what it is good for and what you are shopping for.
They have decent olive oil, cheeses and packaged meats (as in reasonable quality, not overpriced). Their chocolate prices are also good. If you want bulk go to Costco, but small amounts of nuts are not over priced. Their frozen selection is not bad. Their wines vary, but they do have some decent table wines for about $5 (stay away from two buck Chuck).
I do not buy produce there. I typically won't buy fresh meat there (although their holiday turkeys are very good).
Trader Joe's business model is getting foods that Whole Food's customers might like, but offering them at competitive prices. They also carefully selection new store locations for demographics and being on major truck routes (to keep shipping costs low).
I usually buy maple syrup from Costco, so I have not tried the TJ syrup. Good to know John. I do like their jar cherry's (great for making a pie or cobbler in the middle of winter).
They do not sell coke, but they do have an extra strong seasonal ginger ale which is great for Moscow Mules and highballs.
I've been shopping at TJ's for 15 years. I like Stater Bros for the things they don't carry. I never go to Albertson's, Whole Foods, etc.
Again - lovely little story.
Trader Joe's is new to CO. The newer Trader Joes in B-town is exactly as you described. Can't top your description. It's popular, but I don't care for it. My grocery needs are met by 3 stores> King Soopers (best prices), Natural Grocers (best prices on organic veggies & organic products in general), and Whole Foods (Worst prices, best bakery/fresh made bread).
We also have Lucky's Market. In fact a new Lucky's opened in South B-town. Right after it opened, a satellite Whole Foods on the corner of Baseline and Broadway - closed. We have TOO MANY grocery stores and it's a good problem because the competition keeps the prices competitive. I think the new Lucky's is struggling. I get coupons in the mail. Coupons = struggle. Plus it's always sparely populated in there. The produce does not turn over. Nobody wants to buy old floppy produce.
Traders Joes is set up for freezer food meals. I tried a few of them. So-so. I like the pumpkin themed food pile they have this time of year. I used to buy the pumpkin cereal bars. Now - I've lost my taste for per-packaged processed food.
Chip - there is a brand new Natural Grocers on Broadway-- south of Alameda near the Denver Design Center... and Blue Bonnet. Across the street from Blue Bonnet (or just about). They have parking! you should check it out. I prefer it to Trader Joes.
Trader Joe's and Aldi's were each owned by two German Brothers who split their business interests. Out west Aldi's only runs in California. Trader Joe's operates as a gourmet chain, Aldi's as a stock up store for regular groceries.
Aldi is a great place to shop and the prices for many staples is a good deal cheaper than regular grocery chains. Although some items like milk are priced differently I can almost always find a gallon of milk for under 2 dollars at one of their stores. The layout and compactness would seem to make a great grocer for a place like Manhattan there are only a few in the NYC area and none in Manhattan.
Occasionally I stop by Trader Joe's when trying to find something out of the way, but usually they don't carry it. Trader Joe's does sell (or used to) frozen puff pastry made with real butter at a very good price.
Olive oil!
Damnit, I knew I forgot something. Trooper mentioned that. And I'm almost out. Now I have to go back.
There is a Sprouts nearby too. I like that store a lot. It's a fun place to go.
But I LOVE Whole Foods. Especially the big one in Cherry Creek. It's like food heaven in there.
We have Sprouts, too. Or is it Sunflower? One bought out the other and I forget which name they settled on. It's a candy store masquerading as a grocery store. I rarely go in there.
Chicken Pot Pie - now I want one. What's this Tony's?
*upgraded with more annoyance*
Excursions into that type of food store feel undoing, like I am entering into another world. In August, I was overwhelmed by the amount of choices available when I walked into a Whole Foods for the first time. I'd gone with a friend to buy a slice of the kind of hand soap I'd previously received as a gift and liked; and I left with 5 slices of hand soap, two replicating the kind I had and three made with different ingredients. It's a good thing I had a single purpose in mind, as my internal spending regulator was at the point of maxing out with sensory overload.
Years ago (30+) after spending two weeks in Kenya and Tanzania, I had a stopover in Germany and spent the night at an inn in a small town I can't remember that included a dinner with 3 different types of asparagus and a sleep in a feather bed. The opulence, luxury, and choices present in that experience, compared to the poverty and alternative forms of richness I encountered in Africa, were so disparate I felt overwhelmed, unable to process and reconcile the availability and the lack I'd experienced and find my place in it.
That feeling then, is similar to the one that comes up when I walk into an entire aisle devoted to hand made soaps and healthy potions, few of which I've seen before. Where to start? How to discern what is best, of value, necessary or good to have? And above all, how do I determine what I truly want and need?
It brings me back to the questions and concerns listed in the age old story of Genesis:
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew...
@Dickin'Bimbos--the PotPie link made me laugh. Thanks.
Like many things that I have mixed feeling about, all I can say is I'm glad they exist.
I have Walmart, Whole foods, Trader Joe's, and Sprouts all within 2 miles of me, and the Las Vegas Strip is about 3 miles. Ahhh, small town life .
Is there a Cosco, Sam's Club, Albertson's, Safeway? Kroger, Publix, Aldi, Pathmark, Super Target?
Piggy Wiggly?
Stop & Shop, Schnucks, Spartan Nash, Giant-Carlisle, Good Lion, Hannaford?
Martin's Food Markets?
Tom Thumb, Pavilions, Carrs, Randalls?
Marczyk Fine Foods? Huh? Got one of those? They're so exclusive that poor people drop through a trap door before entering, never to be seen again. Once I bought a free-range chicken raised in Boulder that cost $26.00 and I was all WTF? Expensive as h-e-double drumsticks. Tasted exactly like a $4.00 whole chicken. Now that's a mistake you make only once, if that. What the heck. Live and learn innit. Fine! I'm stupid sometimes. I know that. It's my best learning method for everything. It's like the age-old adage from Confucius, "burned once and then after that just fuck you."
First world problems. Too many places provide and encourage mass consumption. We are free and we have so much bounty, but we are also petty and stupid. I predict it all falls down.
Dick, Back in the 80's I became acquainted w/ a Russian Jewish family that had recently emigrated here. The wife told me that when they went into a Wisconsin supermarket for the first time they all cried. The tears were of joy. What quickly followed was anger @ how they had been lied to by their leaders. They weren't surprised as they saw all they were told about the US was propaganda, but to see the lies was galling.
Also in the 80's, I was at a mid level motel outside Boston. It was the motel w/ the ubiquitous all you can eat breakfasts. Nothing special. A Russian tour group was staying there. They were stuffing their pockets and purses w/ food as they ate.
My mother grew up in a dirt poor family during the Depression. 13 kids w/ a no account, Irish, alcoholic old man. Mom would talk about hunger, particularly going to bed hungry and how that is something that changes you. Until she died, when at salad bars or the aforementioned all you can eat buffets, she would take food and put it in her purse, even though we had plenty.
ND - All of the stories like you tell, brushed under the rug by our corrupt press. Communists lie. But the starvation is real. The cruelty is real. Same type of propaganda spread thru-out North Korean and Venezuela.
The natural state of the human condition is poverty and starvation - under the thumb of a corrupt well-fed dictator, and communism/socialism.
Our bounty is a direct result of freedom and capitalism. Capitalism is under assault by the very people who use it and have no clue how it keeps them fat and happy. I've predicted for years that the left desire to take over not only health care, but our food distribution system. WE have too much and that must stop.
We do have too much, but what a glorious problem to have.
I have a trader joe's about a 1000 yards from where I live and I walk there to buy a lot of my goodies and come back home. I like the quality of their products so far. Some of the stuff doesn't last for shit, but that's the breaks. Their pre-made mini-salads are really good. I know it's a whole foods alternative type store, but it's tolerable out here in Carlsbad than say a whole foods in the bay area. The smug is off the charts there.
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