Food and Drink Trader Joes KC - Page 4

Deberg_1990 · 07-18-2011, 09:26 AM

Anyone been yet? Whats the fuss? Its just a grocery store right?

http://www.kcconfidential.com/full_c...full=yes&pbr=1

Fast forward to this week's hot July weekend in Kansas City and Friday's grand opening of not just one, but two TRADER JOE'S grocery stores---the upscale sister business of German owned ALDI stores.

A grand opening without any advertising no less!

(Note: TJ's takes all credit cards. Aldi doesn't take any. And the second TJ location is at 119th and Roe in Leawood.)

Barricades at Ward Parkway Center, security officers, long lines, humanity in mass. You'd think these people had never been to a modern supermarket. Or God forbid, a WHOLE FOODS.

As I was driving past the new Trader Joe's off State Line Friday morning, I swore to stay away from the place for at least a month before checking it out. But curiosity got the best of me Sunday afternoon and off to Ward Parkway Center it was.

Trying to find a parking spot anywhere close was a major challenge. But I lucked out with a spot on the far north side of Target's parking area.

What did I find inside the new store?

Massive crowds, many semi-empty shelves that couldn't be restocked fast enough and some pretty tasty looking goodies. Pricing at first glance seemed to be good to average. A six pack of Beck's beer $6.99, while a gallon of milk sold for $2.99---good prices.

Did I stock up?

No way! Eight checkout lanes. Each with lines at least 20 shoppers deep.

Will I go back? Sure, why not---when things have settled down a bit that is. Until then, it's HyVee, Price Chopper---and dare I suggest--Whole Foods for me.

Third Eye · 07-18-2011, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CHENZ A!

This is what I don't get....

How can they afford to sell good tasting wine so cheap? Is there a limit to how many bottles you can buy in one trip? Do they run out a lot? Why don't bums buy their booze at TJ's?

I need answers!

Well, nobody ever claimed the 2 buck Chuck was good. Don't get me wrong, it can be passable, but I'm certainly not opening one to pair with a good meal. Now if I'm serving 100 people at a wedding reception, then hell yeah. There is a limit with Charles Shaw (2 buck Chuck), but that limit is 8 cases or 96 bottles, and nothing is stopping anybody from bringing a friend to buy another 8.

Forgetting the Chuck for a bit, there are quite a few private label wines there in the $7-$10 range that are absolute steals. To answer your question on how TJ's does this, we will look at an example. Say a good sized vintner has a stellar crop that yields a stellar bottle of wine. The bottle is good enough to yield a $20 price tag. Well, right off the jump, that is going to limit the number of bottles you'll be able to sell, as average Joe consumer won't spend that for a bottle at a grocery store. So the vintner will then sell their bottles with their label for $20, while at the same time selling in bulk to TJ's (the single biggest wine purveyor in the US) at a highly discounted rate, which nicely allows them to maximize their profits. TJ's then puts their own label on it allowing the vintner some anonymity so people will still buy their label at twice the price while TJ's is selling it much cheaper.

chiefsfan987 · 07-18-2011, 10:48 PM

There is one across the street from me and I don't ever shop there really. Every once in a great while I'll go there for wine, but thats it.

**DaKCMan AP** · 07-19-2011, 06:51 AM

Trader Joes = pure Awesome.

**gblowfish** · 07-19-2011, 09:59 AM

The one they opened out by Ward Parkway is managed by a guy I went to High School with in Independence. He moved back here from Colorado, he's worked for TJ's for more than 10 years.

L.A. Chieffan · 07-19-2011, 10:06 AM

Try the mochi, bomb shiznizzle

**OnTheWarpath15** · 07-19-2011, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

I was about to say 'because they don't put their stores where bums can get to them, then I remember that the Metrolink in Big Derrty was extended to within walking distance of TJs.

Where's the Brentwood stop?

Drawing a blank.

**Baby Lee** · 07-19-2011, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

Where's the Brentwood stop?

Drawing a blank.

It doesn't stop there between Best Buy and Dillons? Then why did they build the parking garage behind Best Buy? Never looked, and never took Metrolink beyond the old line [ie, CWE].

Seriously, why the parking garage? They have the metrolink right there passing through, and people park there to hop on a bus?

jspchief · 07-19-2011, 10:36 AM

I checked out the new one in West Des Moines a while back. Was with my 2 daughters who weren't in the mood for grocery stores, so I didn't get a chance to really absorb what all they offer.

I think the thing that stuck with me was all the 40 year old men working cash registers, dressed like 20 year old hipster douche bags on the way to the coffee house. It came off almost like they were wearing costumes. Sad.

Place isn't close enough to ever become part of my grocery shopping, but I may check it out again someday. Or not.

Third Eye · 07-19-2011, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblowfish

The one they opened out by Ward Parkway is managed by a guy I went to High School with in Independence. He moved back here from Colorado, he's worked for TJ's for more than 10 years.

Um, pretty sure Michael manages that one, and he is from Seattle. Though you could be talking about one of assistants.

Frazod · 07-19-2011, 10:43 AM

There's a Trader's Joes in Naperville, but it's on the other side of town in a really congested area, so it's kind of a pain in the ass to go there. I think we've been there three or four times over the years. They have some neat stuff, but generally when we go there we walk out with a bunch of shit we don't need. I'd probably go there more if not for the location.

Third Eye · 07-19-2011, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

It doesn't stop there between Best Buy and Dillons? Then why did they build the parking garage behind Best Buy? Never looked, and never took Metrolink beyond the old line [ie, CWE].

Seriously, why the parking garage? They have the metrolink right there passing through, and people park there to hop on a bus?

There is a stop there.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 07-19-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

It doesn't stop there between Best Buy and Dillons? Then why did they build the parking garage behind Best Buy? Never looked, and never took Metrolink beyond the old line [ie, CWE].

Seriously, why the parking garage? They have the metrolink right there passing through, and people park there to hop on a bus?

I was asking you. I've never taken it that far west either.

But now that you mention Best Buy, I recall a sign being there.

jspchief · 07-19-2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frazod

They have some neat stuff, but generally when we go there we walk out with a bunch of shit we don't need.

Ya, It's like Sam's or Costco in that regard. You see something you've not seen before and your brain gets tricked into thinking you should buy it.

My one trip to TJ's, I bought a bag of Chile Spiced Mango. Dried mango, coated in chile. ****ing inedible.

**Baby Lee** · 07-19-2011, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheWarpath58

I was asking you. I've never taken it that far west either.

But now that you mention Best Buy, I recall a sign being there.

It was just, when you questioned it, I realized that I'd never looked. When I go to BB, I come in the back off Hanley and park under the store. And if I'm on Eager, well I'm driving and thus more concerned with traffic than what's going on under the overpass.

**loochy** · 07-19-2011, 10:51 AM

Trader Joe...is he related to Ranger Joe?

07-18-2011, 09:26 AM
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $154454	Trader Joes KC Anyone been yet? Whats the fuss? Its just a grocery store right? http://www.kcconfidential.com/full_c...full=yes&pbr=1 Fast forward to this week's hot July weekend in Kansas City and Friday's grand opening of not just one, but two TRADER JOE'S grocery stores---the upscale sister business of German owned ALDI stores. A grand opening without any advertising no less! (Note: TJ's takes all credit cards. Aldi doesn't take any. And the second TJ location is at 119th and Roe in Leawood.) Barricades at Ward Parkway Center, security officers, long lines, humanity in mass. You'd think these people had never been to a modern supermarket. Or God forbid, a WHOLE FOODS. As I was driving past the new Trader Joe's off State Line Friday morning, I swore to stay away from the place for at least a month before checking it out. But curiosity got the best of me Sunday afternoon and off to Ward Parkway Center it was. Trying to find a parking spot anywhere close was a major challenge. But I lucked out with a spot on the far north side of Target's parking area. What did I find inside the new store? Massive crowds, many semi-empty shelves that couldn't be restocked fast enough and some pretty tasty looking goodies. Pricing at first glance seemed to be good to average. A six pack of Beck's beer $6.99, while a gallon of milk sold for $2.99---good prices. Did I stock up? No way! Eight checkout lanes. Each with lines at least 20 shoppers deep. Will I go back? Sure, why not---when things have settled down a bit that is. Until then, it's HyVee, Price Chopper---and dare I suggest--Whole Foods for me.
Posts: 68,628

07-18-2011, 10:48 PM	#47
chiefsfan987 MVP Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Casino cash: $8048441	There is one across the street from me and I don't ever shop there really. Every once in a great while I'll go there for wine, but thats it.
Posts: 6,576

07-19-2011, 06:51 AM	#48
DaKCMan AP Beloved & Awesome CP Celebrity Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Florida Casino cash: $5604952	Trader Joes = pure Awesome. __________________
Posts: 35,714

07-19-2011, 09:59 AM	#49
gblowfish Be Kind To Your Pets Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Glorious Independence, MO Casino cash: $16886178 VARSITY	The one they opened out by Ward Parkway is managed by a guy I went to High School with in Independence. He moved back here from Colorado, he's worked for TJ's for more than 10 years.
Posts: 41,016

07-19-2011, 10:06 AM	#50
L.A. Chieffan PLAY GOOD FOOTBALL Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: American Gardens Building Casino cash: $2688654	Try the mochi, bomb shiznizzle
Posts: 17,400

07-19-2011, 10:36 AM	#53
jspchief BAMF Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Your Face Casino cash: $9998710	I checked out the new one in West Des Moines a while back. Was with my 2 daughters who weren't in the mood for grocery stores, so I didn't get a chance to really absorb what all they offer. I think the thing that stuck with me was all the 40 year old men working cash registers, dressed like 20 year old hipster douche bags on the way to the coffee house. It came off almost like they were wearing costumes. Sad. Place isn't close enough to ever become part of my grocery shopping, but I may check it out again someday. Or not. __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
Posts: 27,207

07-19-2011, 10:43 AM	#55
Frazod Did you hear what I said? Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-736615	There's a Trader's Joes in Naperville, but it's on the other side of town in a really congested area, so it's kind of a pain in the ass to go there. I think we've been there three or four times over the years. They have some neat stuff, but generally when we go there we walk out with a bunch of shit we don't need. I'd probably go there more if not for the location.
Posts: 121,760

07-19-2011, 10:51 AM	#60
loochy Hey Loochy, I'm hooome! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: PooPooKaKaPeePeeShire Casino cash: $-1699603	Trader Joe...is he related to Ranger Joe? __________________ Hey Loochy, I'm hoooome!
Posts: 42,126