Kitchen

[Deadeye Daisy]

YES! Most definitely worth a 'road trip'.

When we first moved to GA from California, we didn't have ANY TJs here. Before the move, I bought cases of the things we loved and had 'em moved by our movers. Things like Garden Patch, apricot and peach sauces, kitty treats, REAL pineappple juice, and French Gum fruits (which none of the stores on the east coast have). I believe we had 20 cases of stuff all told. Fortunately, it was a company paid move.

After moving to GA, when we made trips up to NJ, I would call ahead to Wayne, PA or Westfield, NJ stores to pre-order case lots for our return trip back down to GA. Pre-packed cases were easier to transport.

Now, it's only a 70 mile round trip to most of the 6 TJs in the Atlanta area, but I try to make it every other month when I go to BJs. Now, with some planning (stopping on the way for dry ice), I can also get frozen and refrigerated items in the summer. One of the things I miss from the CA stores - Alta Dena milk and dairy products.

Yes, you do get 'addicted' to some TJs items. Cheeses, chocolates (dark chocolate sea salt caramels) around the holidays; pumpkin body butter @ $5 for 8 oz (about the least expensive and BEST moisturizer out there).

Double Rainbow ice cream. Frozen fire roasted corn, three pepper mix, frozen herbs (much better selection than WalMart). Small size packages of speck, proscuitto, cappicola. Small cans of Hawaiian pineapple juice. Good turkey stock and concentrate. Jams. Cookie butter.

I go with a long list, and often stop at three TJs stores in one trip, as they all don't carry the same items. I buy less now, since it's just myself and guests.

Was able to find things like panko and toasted sesame oil at TJs LONG before you could get them at regular markets.

When we lived in CA, whenever we went to WDW in FL, I would stop at Publix and have them freeze two 6# Taylor Pork Rolls for our return trip home. When flying to NJ from GA or CA, I would order a case of pastrami from Path Mark for our return AND TastyKake Butterscotch Krimpets. We always traveled with nothing but carry-on bags for our personal items, but always traveled with an empty suitcase for stuff we were bringing back home.

[jackthebear]

There are 2 within 10 to 15 minutes of me, I just can't imagine driving more than that to go to any grocery store. Living in the most populated county in the one of the most populated states in country I forget what the rest of the country is like.

At least 7 grocery stores within 10 minutes or less not including TJ, not that I shop at all of them and not including Whole Foods.

[FunkyHulaGirl]

Thanks, everyone. I know it's owned by the brother of the guy who owns Aldi, so that's why I wasn't sure on credit cards or checks - I thought it might be the same as Aldi.

I never shopped at a Trader Joe's until I went to the one in Nashville a few weeks ago - I was there anyway, as I met up with some ladies from the board for lunch. So many wonderful things that you can't find just anywhere, and the fruit tasted much like it used to - non-GMO, juicy, and GOOD. I paid $3.99 for a case of nectarines, and actually finished every last one; I usually end up throwing most fruits I buy out because they don't taste like they should. There are several dozen supermarkets in the area, including Whole Foods, Earth Fare, Publix, Fresh Market, 3 Aldis, Sam's, Costco, etc. - but Trader Joe's has far better produce than any of them do, and unique things like cookie butter, freeze-dried fruit (which I use in buttercream frosting), the best butter cookies ever, etc. One trip was enough to have me hooked!

We're going to the one in Marietta, and are planning to have lunch at Ted's Montana Grill first - I'm hoping they'll sell me some of their wonderful pickles to bring home! We'll do Trader Joe's last, since we're planning on getting frozen items - we're taking a large cooler with us. I'll have to look for the kitty treats; I got dog kibble last time, but haven't used it yet - they'll get some for dinner tonight as I just gave them the last of the previous kind.

I live in a relatively small town, but a major store just announced it's opening here and the Town Council is trying to attract more new businesses; we've been writing to Trader Joe's, hoping they'll open a store near us.

BTW Daisy, most of the Walmarts in the area now carry Tastycake. I used to love the coconut layer cake juniors, but it's not as good as I remembered it.

[Clover29]

I've never been in one that gives you anything for bringing your own bag: all the TJ's I've been to are in cities that have banned plastic grocery bags, so you have to bring your own (or pay for paper). They don't give prizes for that round here.

I'm super impressed with the quality of TJ's everything. I cook a meal with their products, and whatever it is, fish, pasta, pastries, DH always says, "This is nice," and I have to say, "Of course it is, it's Trader Joe's". He doesn't do that when I serve up something from Safeway.

I would love to say I've never had a single bad thing from there, but the other week I bought a jar of marinara sauce and it was terrible. First lousy product in ten years. I thought it was tasteless and much too thin and runny. I also don't care for their shaved Parmesan, which I think is too chunky, but DH prefers it to the thinner ones at other stores.

Would I drive 100 miles to buy from them? No, not on my own, but as a road trip with a pal, I could make a day of it and have some wonderful groceries at the end of it.

[Lovely]

Don't waste the gas. I live near one and have tried to find something in there to buy and never do. Most of what they sell isn't healthy either...read the labels and you'll see.

[Clover29]

On 7/10/2014 Lovely said:

Don't waste the gas. I live near one and have tried to find something in there to buy and never do. Most of what they sell isn't healthy either...read the labels and you'll see.

It's the only place I can get prepared fresh mango, almost all year round. What's not healthy about that?

OK, their chocolate and almond croissants are to die for, and they're not healthy. But so what

[I am still oxox]

I have one down the street from me, we shop there all there time and before we lived here we would stop there on the way home from seeing my parents

[Gooday]

I like T.J.'s but, it's always so darned crowded I feel that I can't browse and THAT bothers me. A lot. Just so long as I can stock up on "Two Buck Chuck" I'm happy.

[scatcat]

My TJ's is like 3 miles away and I sometimes have a hard time justifying the drive. 100 miles each way? Really? It's such a small store...have fun and safe travels!

[Teddixat]

@ID2. There is no hype. TJs is the real deal. Your loss