Mob. Scene. It looked reasonable from the outside: there were a few people with Trader Joe's bags hailing cabs, and only one person walking out as I approached. Even the aisles, although crowded, were manageable.
But then I saw the line. It snaked past the energy bars and over through the dairy section, down past the Grand Sample Station (everything at TJ's has cutesy names) and into the meat case. Quickly I opted to buy my organic bananas elsewhere, and serve you all with some photos from the inside.
In case you just emerged from a long slumber, Trader Joe's is a chain of neighborhood grocery stores, started in California in 1967, featuring high quality imported and domestic foods and beverages at honest, low prices. There are now about 250 stores in 19 states. Until today, New York City was missing out on the joys of shopping at this unique store.
The wait, it is over.
(More photos below the jump...)
Awww... I am jealous. I live in Florida and they're not here yet! But I go every time I am back in Ohio and stock up on pasta, cheap wine (for cooking) and chocolate with whole hazelnuts!
Also, I love their canvas bags; they are the perfect size for a week's worth of groceries for one. I use them at the grocery store here. However - tragedy!! - I just washed all three of the ones I use and they SHRUNK! So sad. They are book bags now, I guess...
Faith, same exact thing happened to me. Cold water, air dry. It's the only way. In the meantime, we'll hope for TJ's in Florida soon.
It should be a holiday! There should be a parade! Wait a second. It is! There is!
As a long time downtown resident used to bringing literally a suitcase of TJ product back from LA for over 20 years I have been waiting for this day. (My needs are simple.)
Good stuff, cheap! Take that Whole Foods.
You mean that parade ISN'T for Trader Joe's? Oh, it must be a March Madness Parade. OK, that makes sense.
Anyone out there who braved the lines today care to report? I'm curious to know if their lines will be as fast-moving (relative to their length, anyway) as Whole Foods'.
I posted this on today's open thread:
Just got back from Trader Joe's aka MADHOUSE. If you're going there in the next few days here's how to work it --
Shop the center aisles first and then get in line. The line is so long that it snakes around the entire store. While in line you can shop the perimeter since you have to slowly make your way around it anyway. When I got in line I had about $20 less in my cart than when I finally got to check-out. But I met some nice people in line and had some good conversations (Hi Lisa!).
Wine shop isn't open yet. They say they're "fine tuning it".
Just remember to take an extra bag of patience with you. You'll need it.
I went at 4pm and shopped and checked out in 30 minutes. Do as Anne suggests and shop the interior, then go wait in line and shop as it goes around. It looks very long but actually it was pretty quick. Plus, I had two friendly employees give me good stuff to eat while I was waiting, including delicious ginger snaps. I bought gruyere pizza, edamame, hanes diet soda, yogurt, tilapia filets, banana chips, chicken stir fry, and frozen onion soup for $20.
I am happy that TJ's opened in the city, but my husband and I love to make a day of it and go to the TJ's in Hartsdale, or the one in Scarsdale. They are never crowded and it's always enjoyable, our son loves to ride in the cart. Then we have lunch at the Pizza and Brew on Central Avenue (we both have Westchester backgrounds) and take a leisurely drive home - if you have a car and a day and want a pleasant, fun outing this is what I suggest. Hmmm, maybe we'll go this weekend?
Sara Kate,
Thanks for the very nice photo coverage.
A friend borrowed a car a few weeks ago and we went to the TJ's in Westchester. It was nice to be able to bring the load home in a car but the down side is that the TJs out there don't have the wine/liquor dept. that the one here in Manhattan does.
I was there at 9:05 this morning - the INCREDIBLY affable sales people said they had opened early - 8:40. I estimate there were already 400 people in the store (not counting the 50 or so workers roaming the floor). I shopped, picked out some great bargains, turned downed several offers of free cookies, dried hibiscus flowers, cheeses and then got in line. I was at the back of the store - perhaps 75 people in front of me - it took 6 minutes to get to the front. 17 Cashiers all working full tilt! Very impressive.
I bought 2 pounds of frozen WILD salmon burgers for $4.29 per pound - grilled some as plain burgers and made others into salmon cakes with panko, egg and parsley - very tasty.
I talked to an assistant manager - they already know this store will be the biggest grossing TJ's. They're working on improvements - opening earlier, staying open later, unsure about delivery or parking (not likely) but really, it was a very positive experience.
anybody want to post their receipts? sorry if that's a bit crass--i am just curious to see how their prices stack up to freshdirect or my local market before making the trek in from brooklyn...although i probably will out of curiousity anyway. :)
They make same day deliveries for $5 and from I was told by an employee they deliver from the wine/liquor store next door for $19.99 if it's one bottle or 10 cases.
So liz, you may want to go shopping and have your groceries delivered. I think it's worth the trip.
The store, where is it exactly?
http://traderjoes.com/locations/map/540.asp
It pays to look at the website because they are always updating it with great recipes and new products. And grab a Fearless Flyer when at the store. Lots of information in it.
I like that TJs have a test kitchen so that all products are taste tested first before going on the shelves. Can't say that about Food Emporium.
HIP HIP HOORAY. I haven't been yet because of the crowds, but just looking at those pics brought tears (of ecstatic joy) to my eyes! Like many of you, I grew up with Trader Joe's in CA and I cannot be happier that they are FINALLY here. Whole Foods, be on notice....The schlep from Brooklyn will be painless compared to lugging back jars of artichoke/palm pesto or peaches from france or wasabi mayonaise or pineapple salsa, etc., in my suitcase. YIPPEE. Cannot wait until my day off to go.
Oh I'm delighted. I hit Union Square's greenmarket on Saturday-- didn't seem to affect their sales too much which is good, I don't like my favorite grocery stops competing! So I've not been inside yet though while I do second the canvas bags, TJ's has among the sturdiest paper bags known to marketkind. I re-used them for all sorts of tasks in Las Vegas, so they're not a terrible waste.
TJ's hitting the east coast is already news here in the back woods of Georgia! Can you say redneck? My patients family gave me a bottle of $2 Buck Chuck! Then they ask me to put their Cabernet on ice-did I say redneck?
I recently moved from Philadelphia to Tampa, Florida and the one thing I miss the most is TRADER JOES!! I am so tired of the hum drum grocery stores & overpriced whole-foods stores here. There's nothing close to it here. I keep hoping and hoping that Trader Joes will open here in Florida. Every time I have out-of-town company from the northeast, I have a list of items for them to bring from Trader Joes on the airplane for me.
***COME TO THE SUNSHINE STATE TRADER JOES! THE HAWAIIAN SHIRTS WILL FIT IN PERFECTLY!***
Nancy
Hi Hi Hi, Trader Joes is finally here in Union Square. I can see Whole Foods go down. Hope your stock go down with you too.. haha.
I love to shop at Trader Joes, the food is good. I tried the frozen red snapper last week, and it was very good. It is imported from Indonesia and wildly caught. It is interesting, but who cares. Like i told you it tastes good.
I will continue shopping there because I have a crush on one of the crews, he is so cute? I think his name is Mike(dark hair cutie)
Hail Trader Joe's!!!! lol......they are like a fucking god of Good Organic food. except their cakes in the deep freeze are hydrogenated!! otherwise pricewise and customer service wise they have wfm beat by a longshot. speaking of wfm ...grrrr....those hired my wife at the greenwich store and harassed her non stop. so i had to caqll up the boss to yell at them for firing a good worker. then they banned us from the Greenwich wfm store because we had called the regional manager and the CEO john mackey in Texas who refused to return our phone calls. seems Mr mackey is the over paid Parasite!!! unlike the unions, who he hates so much, mr mackey is disrespectful towards his employee's and shoppers. we intend to organise a boycott of Whole Foods and have retained a lawyer. We happily shop at wild oats and tj's. john mackey, you suck big time