Please explain Trader Joe's

[Anonymous]

I've gone a couple times to the one in Bethesda and went to one in San Francisco before. Maybe I'm spoiled by the four Whole Foods within a mile of my house, but I can't seem to see why Trader Joe's is so popular. Their produce is always wilted and I don't think I would ever buy meat there.

[Anonymous]

The cheeses are much cheaper than Whole Foods. That's why I like it, though I agree about the produce.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've gone a couple times to the one in Bethesda and went to one in San Francisco before. Maybe I'm spoiled by the four Whole Foods within a mile of my house, but I can't seem to see why Trader Joe's is so popular. Their produce is always wilted and I don't think I would ever buy meat there.

No where in this area are there four Whole Food stores within a mile of one another.

Most people go to TJ's for the frozen stuff and great, easy options. There's a lot more there than just veggies and meat.

[Anonymous]

I love their snacks (some are creative and healthier options), trail mixes, baked goods, pink lemonade, salad dressing, and several frozen products. I do agree that their produce is not great...however, the meat choices are much better than they used to be.

[Anonymous]

TJs is not for fresh food, but for prepared packaged foods - there they really excel far beyond what whole foods has to offer. and where on earth do you live?
i live in btwn 2 whole foods and i can't think of any location where there are 4 in a mile radius.

[Anonymous]

That's funny. I love TJs and cannot for the life of me understand why anyone goes to WholeFoods on a regular basis. I find WholeFoods chaotic and overpriced. I'm sure they have some good stuff, but I feel so crowded and overwhelmed I just want to run for the exit.

TJs to me is more of an adventure. Never know what you will find. We use it mainly for frozen stuff (as one poster suggested). I find their frozen veggies to be high quality and inexpensive - great for the winter months. And I admit to stocking up on some frozen convenience foods. And also "fun" stuff (cat cookies, hummus, appetizers).

But clearly, if you are looking for fresh produce, WholeFoods makes much more sense than TJs. I just go to the regular grocery store for produce.

[Anonymous]

Not the OP but there are 2 Whole Foods literally within a mile of my house (Bethesda and Friendship Hts). Tenley is about 2 miles, and Georgetown maybe 3 miles.

I like TJs for the prepared foods. I shop at both as I don't see them as interchangeable at all.

[Anonymous]

TJ for snacks and frozen food. The best.

[Anonymous]

Wegmans and farmers markets are way better than WF for fresh produce. Trader Joes is great for prepared frozen meals, fabulous prices on cereals, pasta sauces, excellent cheese selection, different alcohol options, snacks, very affordable flowers that last long, etc... Another great thing about TJ's is how nice their employees are and their kid friendliness (find the cows, get treasures, stickers, coloring contests, etc...)

[Anonymous]

By the way I highly recommend the Friendship Heights Whole Foods. Huge store, wide aisles, much more stuff, plenty of free parking. A much more pleasant shopping experience than the River Rd store.

[Anonymous]

I never buy anything fresh at TJ's - so no produce, bread, eggs, meat, dairy products, or flowers (especially the one in Foggy Bottom). I am not sure how their stuff is transported or stored, but anything fresh is either rotten or wilted within a day or two of purchase. The one exception is cheese - they have a great selection of cheeses for very low prices! (although the cheese does mold faster than cheese bought at other stores, so I don't stock up.)

TJ's is great for packaged products - unprocessed sugar, chicken stock, nuts, cereal, coffee, tea, spices, canned goods, frozen foods... Great values and really interesting products!

[Anonymous]

I do not understand the appeal of TJ's either except for their prices on nuts and olive oil. I have never found their packaged foods to be that good and their frozen dinners have lots of sodium.

I agree on Wegman's. Wish they would open in MoCo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not the OP but there are 2 Whole Foods literally within a mile of my house (Bethesda and Friendship Hts). Tenley is about 2 miles, and Georgetown maybe 3 miles.

I like TJs for the prepared foods. I shop at both as I don't see them as interchangeable at all.

OP here, maybe 1 mile was an exageration, but yes, I live in Friendship Heights, but used to live in Glover Park, so there are four very close to my house.

[Anonymous]

I actually like the produce at TJs and lots of other products that they only sell there. The big draw over Whole Foods is that it is much cheaper. I can't afford to do regular shopping at Whole Foods.

[Anonymous]

I think part of the problem is the Bethesda TJs. It's small and overcrowded and the parking lot is an accident waiting to happen. I like the Foggy Bottom TJs for prepared foods (frozen and refrigerated) as well as stocking up on staples. I don't find WF to be very good for prepared foods, but agree their produce seems fresher and more extensive.