Food and Drink Trader Joes KC - Page 2

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.

underEJ · 07-18-2011, 10:57 AM

A sampling of great things from trader joes:

canned corn. amazingly crisp and sweet and not canny at all.
almond milk. they just added this and I like it more than almond breeze brand.
roasted pepper and corn soup. I sometimes add grilled chicken and hot peppers, but good straight.
satay noodles. I miss these since I stopped eating gluten.
marinara. the regular one, tall jar.
caramelized onion dip. great on carrots ,cucumbers, and grilled steak tips (happy accident.)
hummus. all kinds.

**The Bad Guy** · 07-18-2011, 10:59 AM

Love Trader Joe's.

Sad that there's not one in my area.

**Bowser** · 07-18-2011, 11:12 AM

The wife braved the crowds this weekend. She loves the place.

JD10367 · 07-18-2011, 11:15 AM

Trader Joe's is awesome. Think of it as a small, hippie Whole Foods with better prices. (Or, if you have a cheapskate Aldi's around, think of it as Aldi's crossed with Whole Foods.) They have some truly unique products that are hard to find (if not impossible) elsewhere.

Bewbies · 07-18-2011, 11:17 AM

I love TJ's and shop there all the time.

**Bowser** · 07-18-2011, 11:18 AM

And apparently they have some decent tasting wines at very chep prices.

**sd4chiefs** · 07-18-2011, 11:22 AM

The Chocolate Croissants are amazing. They are in the frozen breakfast area.

Pasta Little Brioni · 07-18-2011, 11:25 AM

Sounds like a "hipster" place.

Deberg_1990 · 07-18-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGM

Sounds like a "hipster" place.

Yea, thats kind of the vibe im getting. I dont think im enough of a food connoisseur to appreciate a place like this.

Ill stick to the regular grocery stores and name brand stuff.

Third Eye · 07-18-2011, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGM

Sounds like a "hipster" place.

Not really. Granted, there are a fair share of hipsters who shop there, but they are certainly a minority.

When I chose to go back to school full-time 3 years ago, I started working at one of the locations here in St. Louis. Flexible hours and great benefits made it the perfect job for me. I totally had my preconceptions blown out of the water as I had a similar opinion to the one above. Sadly, my tenure there has come to an end as I've graduated.

What it boils down to is this: if you like healthy foods (no artificial preservatives, no GMO's, etc.) at a cheap price (more often than not they are cheaper than your neighborhood grocery store), then it is a great place to shop. Best frozen foods and best valued wine, bar none.

BTW, many of the TJ label products are really major label products that have been reformulated to meet the TJ standards.

**Baby Lee** · 07-18-2011, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaFace

I've been to one in DC a couple times. The entire place is pretty much house brands, but the quality level is certainly much higher than "Great Value" and that type of thing. People who do a lot of shopping there swear it's less expensive than about any other grocery store out there, but the quality is just as good. I couldn't really judge from my limited experience, though.

They also have a pretty good selection of "hippy" food (as I affectionately call it), such as organic foods, gluten free stuff, and a plethora of stuff that vegetarians would like.

Actually, a lot of them are name brands, but they package them as house brands so people don't say "why would I buy XXX at the grocery store when TJs has it $.50 cheaper."

I, and my family [who went there gleefully, Sunday], are totally in the cult of Trader Joes. I don't buy everything there [I still prefer cheap produce to expensive 'hippy' produce, same with dairy and eggs], but their meat, frozen and especially 'trail mix' aisles are de rigeur.

**Baby Lee** · 07-18-2011, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PGM

Sounds like a "hipster" place.

If a hipster and Sam's Club 'did it.'

it's actually owned by the guy who owns Aldi's.

Take a lot of Sam's Club's foodstuffs and package them individually, and you have a good bit of Trader Joes.

HonestChieffan · 07-18-2011, 12:13 PM

Ive never been but the idea is a cool one.

Id love to go someplace and trade stuff to get stuff. I have stuff they may want to trade me for.

Fish · 07-18-2011, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

Ive never been but the idea is a cool one.

Id love to go someplace and trade stuff to get stuff. I have stuff they may want to trade me for.

Stewie · 07-18-2011, 12:23 PM

The private label business model is growing rapidly. Aldi was the first to do it exclusively and they continued the idea with Trader Joe's.

There used to be a website that listed what foods at Aldi were made by whom. It was a Kosher site for those who needed to know what was edible. Some well-known names that I remember were Sargento for most of their cheese, Tyson for chicken, spin-off of Prego for spaghetti sauce and cereals made by Quaker and Malt-O-Meal. I'm sure things change, but most of their food comes from well-known sources.

When I worked in food production during HS and college we did some private label packaging. It was exactly the same as the name brand product, it just came in a store-labeled carton.

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: 68,623

07-18-2011, 10:57 AM	#16
underEJ Veteran Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles Casino cash: $6183141	A sampling of great things from trader joes: canned corn. amazingly crisp and sweet and not canny at all. almond milk. they just added this and I like it more than almond breeze brand. roasted pepper and corn soup. I sometimes add grilled chicken and hot peppers, but good straight. satay noodles. I miss these since I stopped eating gluten. marinara. the regular one, tall jar. caramelized onion dip. great on carrots ,cucumbers, and grilled steak tips (happy accident.) hummus. all kinds.
Posts: 1,240

07-18-2011, 10:59 AM	#17
The Bad Guy Scott Pioli Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: The Copacobana Casino cash: $9283645	Love Trader Joe's. Sad that there's not one in my area. __________________
Posts: 23,216

07-18-2011, 11:12 AM	#18
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $-158384	The wife braved the crowds this weekend. She loves the place.
Posts: 106,767

07-18-2011, 11:15 AM	#19
JD10367 Cheaterlover* Join Date: May 2009 Location: RI Casino cash: $10010716	Trader Joe's is awesome. Think of it as a small, hippie Whole Foods with better prices. (Or, if you have a cheapskate Aldi's around, think of it as Aldi's crossed with Whole Foods.) They have some truly unique products that are hard to find (if not impossible) elsewhere.
Posts: 12,916

07-18-2011, 11:17 AM	#20
Bewbies Ith Fuhtbawl Time Join Date: Apr 2010 Casino cash: $9999900	I love TJ's and shop there all the time.
Posts: 10,085

07-18-2011, 11:18 AM	#21
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $-158384	And apparently they have some decent tasting wines at very chep prices.
Posts: 106,767

07-18-2011, 11:22 AM	#22
sd4chiefs error 404 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Bizarro World Casino cash: $8650445	The Chocolate Croissants are amazing. They are in the frozen breakfast area. __________________ “It's Easier to Fool People Than It Is to Convince Them That They Have Been Fooled.” – Mark Twain.
Posts: 3,997

07-18-2011, 11:25 AM	#23
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $218880	Sounds like a "hipster" place. __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
Posts: 72,991

07-18-2011, 12:13 PM	#28
HonestChieffan Seeking the Truth daily Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In the Country in MO Casino cash: $-1545691	Ive never been but the idea is a cool one. Id love to go someplace and trade stuff to get stuff. I have stuff they may want to trade me for. __________________ "We read books for knowledge; We read the Bible for wisdom!"
Posts: 54,790

07-18-2011, 12:23 PM	#30
Stewie MVP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West of the Equator Casino cash: $-1770099	The private label business model is growing rapidly. Aldi was the first to do it exclusively and they continued the idea with Trader Joe's. There used to be a website that listed what foods at Aldi were made by whom. It was a Kosher site for those who needed to know what was edible. Some well-known names that I remember were Sargento for most of their cheese, Tyson for chicken, spin-off of Prego for spaghetti sauce and cereals made by Quaker and Malt-O-Meal. I'm sure things change, but most of their food comes from well-known sources. When I worked in food production during HS and college we did some private label packaging. It was exactly the same as the name brand product, it just came in a store-labeled carton. Last edited by Stewie; 07-18-2011 at 12:32 PM..
Posts: 13,867