Just Kate Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 I no longer live near a Trader Joe's. Tomorrow I have to drive quite a way (4 hours) for a work appointment and there will be a TJs about 30 minutes out of my way. I have the ability to build in the time to stop by, but I won't have a cooler to keep any food cold. I am trying to remember what I used to buy that wasn't freezer/refrigerated...but is there enough to make it worthwhile, even without a cooler? It has been such a long time...boy do I miss my Trader Joe's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 30 minutes total out of your way or 30 minutes out and 30 minutes back? I would go for 30 minutes total, but not an hour. It would be dissapointing to miss the frozen section, but still worth it to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elfgivas Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 oh yes, i'd sure say so... amazing crackers, wine, peanut butter, wine, pastas, wine, sauces.... did i mention wine? the best cat scratchers in existence, chocolate, cheese.... oh yes, cheeses galore.... coffee, amazing coffee i'd go in a heartbeat, ann ps. given the gas cost, etc, coolers are cheap.... or maybe you have a friend who could loan you one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ashfern Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 You can buy an insulated bag there. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 We don't have a TJ's local, it is 2.5 hrs away, but when we visit the city we nearly always go buy to stock up on some staples. I've got a TJ's insulated bag or cooler I bring, depending on what I'm planning on buying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Yup. Cheap tuna, olive oil, cereal, treats, fruit, coffee... (not all TJs carry wine) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scubamama Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Ashfern is right - you CAN buy a cooler bag there. I'd go. We never lived by a TJ's before, but I swear I wouldn't want to live away from one now that I've been spoiled by TJ's! Drive, woman, drive! :auto: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewsDK Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Absolutely! I always go there when I visit my parent (3.5 hours from home). We don't buy anything cold, just stock up on dry goods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 No. I think I am the only person on the planet who does not love Trader Joes. I have one about a 10 minute walk from my house and I rarely go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jan in SC Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 No. I think I am the only person on the planet who does not love Trader Joes. I have one about a 10 minute walk from my house and I rarely go. :iagree: I have never found anything great there. I do go to Whole Foods, if I drive to a city that has one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 No. I think I am the only person on the planet who does not love Trader Joes. I have one about a 10 minute walk from my house and I rarely go. It depends on what you use. They have almond flour/meal for cheaper than I've been able to find anywhere else. They have cheaper soy free tuna, the cheapest brown rice pasta out there, and grassfed butter for cheaper than I can get locally or through the co-op. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 I'd just borrow a cooler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justLisa Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 No. I think I am the only person on the planet who does not love Trader Joes. I have one about a 10 minute walk from my house and I rarely go. No you are not the only one. I go oh, maybe twice a year and buy 2 cases of the Tuscan Marinara. I also get baking chocolate and a couple other things, but if I had to drive out of my way I could surely replace them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 I would go if I had a lot to stock up on. And I'd buy the cooler bags while I was there but I probably wouldn't buy meat with that long of a drive home without a real cooler with ice packs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjzimmer1 Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 No. I think I am the only person on the planet who does not love Trader Joes. I have one about a 10 minute walk from my house and I rarely go. Another one is agreement with you. We have one about 15 minutes away. While I don't dislike the store, there really isn't anything special to drive out of my way for either. It's VERY expensive compared to similar (organic or otherwise just free of the junk food additives) that I can get at the regular grocery store, through the food co-op, or at the farmer's market. I think because of the abundance of grocery stores in the area where I live, that most of them have become very competitive in the area of healthy food options and thus TJ prices are high because there isn't many grocery options where they are located (downtown in the area of a large university). The frozen food is fun simply because there are choices that aren't available elsewhere but those are all splurge foods not basics. So for me, no I wouldn't drive out of my way for one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ondreeuh Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 When I go to TJ's, I end up just spending way too much money on impulse purchases. I do like their spices (cheap!) and sugar free drink mixes, but the quality of their staples isn't enough to justify a separate trip for me. I lived less than 10 minutes from one for years and rarely, RARELY went. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janie Grace Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 I'd go if it was 30 minutes total (round trip) out of the way, but not an hour. I don't tend to get a lot of frozen things anyway (we don't do convenience foods, really). But the staples are worth it, to me (peanut butter, brown rice pasta, WW pasta, dried fruit, wine -- yes, wine is a staple! :D). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Joe-Joes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Kate Posted September 10, 2012 Author Share Posted September 10, 2012 Joe-Joes! :lol: Joe-Joes are actually why I really want to go. I miss them so much! :lol: I guess I could take a cooler (I do own one). I just didn't really want to mess with the hassle of it. The food would sit in my cooler from around noon until probably 9pm. Would putting ice on the frozen food keep it frozen? I think I will stop regardless. It has been years since I have been to one and I'm sure I can find at least a few things to pick up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MariannNOVA Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 it would be worth it only if the only place i could said items was at TJ and I was going to lay in a supply. My haunts are wegman's, WF, and TJs. It would have to be worth my time.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennynd Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Ok, I'll have to go back there and check that out. I do buy that. I didn't see it, but the day I went there were too many people in the store for me to really look at stuff. I didn't build up my courage to go yet for above reason. I don't like crowd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
In the Rain Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 I like their powdered dishwasher detergent. It doesn't have bleach, and doesn't leave the dishes smelling perfumey. We haven't lived near a TJ's for 2 years, so that is at least how the detergent used to be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 If you have $$$ to really stock up, I'd go. I could easily spend $300 on foods that aren't just "processed". What I like is all a "good price" I like the (all of these things are organic) Tomato Sauce , Corn Flakes, Corn Chips(just like Fritos!!) , Tortilla Chips, Refried Beans, And unlike at the local store where they are 2x as much... they're about the same price! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather in OK Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Absolutely, no question!! And I have done it before. ;) When we went to visit my Mom for Christmas this past year, we took a day to drive 3.5hrs from her house to go to KC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovinmomma Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Absolutely, no question!! And I have done it before. ;) When we went to visit my Mom for Christmas this past year, we took a day to drive 3.5hrs from her house to go to KC. Ack! You were down my way!!! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Ok, I'll have to go back there and check that out. I do buy that. I didn't see it, but the day I went there were too many people in the store for me to really look at stuff. It's with the nuts and $4lb. I've not found it anywhere close to that price, locally it is sky high. Online even buying just the nuts to grind myself it works out to about $5 a lb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoot Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 No. I think I am the only person on the planet who does not love Trader Joes. I have one about a 10 minute walk from my house and I rarely go. Sorry, but you aren't the only person. I'm not a fan either. I stock up on raw almond butter there about twice a year because it's cheap, but otherwise I think most of what they carry is only slightly better than what I find in the grocery store pre-packaged food aisles. In fact, I find that they carry far less whole food than my local grocery store. Their produce section is incredibly limited compared to my farmer's market and it is farmore expensive. We have a small, local health food store that I would go to ANY. DAY. over a Trader Joe's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QueenCat Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 In fact, I find that they carry far less whole food than my local grocery store. Their produce section is incredibly limited compared to my farmer's market and it is farmore expensive. We have a small, local health food store that I would go to ANY. DAY. over a Trader Joe's. That must vary regionally. Although the closest TJ's has a small produce section, it is cheaper for most items than any of the local farmers markets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Best price in town for avacodos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 I would probably go. There are a lot of things that I purchase that are better deals there than other places. Nuts, dried fruit, pasta, coffee, chocolate chips, allergy friendly foods, pasta sauce, simmer sauces, tomatoes, beans, and wine are all things I buy from there. I do find it cheaper depending on what is purchased. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadianmumof5 Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 Well let me see..... We drove to Buffalo just to have a shamrock shake from McDonalds when I was pregnant with DD8. We drove to Buffalo for asiago cheese bagels from Panera Bread when I was pregnant with DS6. We often drive across the border just to shop at Target and eat at The Cheesecake Factory :drool5: So ya, I would drive 30 minutes :D I've seen a lot of you talk about TJs so iwent to their website and sure enough, they are opening one in Rochester, NY on October 5th!!!! Just in time for our annual black friday shopping adventure. Can't wait to see what all the excitement is all about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 No. I think I am the only person on the planet who does not love Trader Joes. I have one about a 10 minute walk from my house and I rarely go. I like their reduced sugar jam (organic) and dried ginger, and their yogurt and buttermilk are fine. I pick up a few other things occasionally but it's not my main store. My dad is crazy about it and I tried a fair number of their frozen stuff when I was younger that he bought, like frozen veges in sauce. I shop at a lot of ethnic stores so I don't need TJ's interpretations. I have a family member who works there and I appreciate that they seem to be a decent employer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 I'm totally spoiled! I've got a Whole Foods & Trader Joe's directly across the street from one other. But, I would drive 30 miles out of my way for T Joe's to get... Wine (some of the best $4 Spanish, South American and Aussie Wines around) Pound Chocolate bars (milk, dark, with nuts/or without) Avocados Artichokes (when in season they are the best you will find in Atlanta) GF Pasta (cheap and actually tastes good) Hummus Goat Cheese Dates (WF does have some great ones too but they are twice as much) GF Oats Almond Milk (only one better is the raw almond milk I make from scratch) Raw Nuts (they are much cheaper than WF) Mai Mai (very good quality from frozen fish) WF has the best for frozen wild caught Salmon. Coconut Water Bars (yummy frozen treat that is not too high in carbs) Laura Bars (about 20 cents cheaper than WF, except when WF has a coupon) :blink: Yes, WF now has coupons. I wonder if you can extreem coupon at WF? :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted September 10, 2012 Share Posted September 10, 2012 I keep meaning to get their chocolate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 I am bitter that you all can get wine at TJs. I'm in a state that bans alcohol sales in grocery stores. Wegman's tried to get cute and put a liquor store INSIDE their store and were DENIED. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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