Syracuse has been waiting since the ’60’s for Trader Joe’s to make it here from California.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when my dear wife Karen and I stepped into Syracuse’s Trader Joe’s at last a few weekends ago.
The buzz was big. But I knew I couldn’t eat the cookie butter. Which is actually ice cream, I found out. Still can’t eat it. I saw not one no sugar added ice cream variety in Trader Joe’s ice cream case.
Oh, I looked.
At the chips and dips.
At the deli meat and frozen dinners.
Bread and produce.
All of the stuff that I’m likely to buy at a trip to Wegmans or Tops or Price Chopper, the big three of Syracuse supermarkets, I gave the once-over at Trader Joe’s.
I thought the stuff looked hipper, the way it was packaged and named, and pricing was similar, maybe even a little less expensive on some merchandise.
Interesting display, no?
Karen and I bought a few things, and they were …
If you’d like to read this week’s installment of my community blog about Trader Joe’s on Syracuse Public Media site waer.org, click the link below.
http://waer.org/post/whats-little-wait-when-you-get-trader-joes
Here’s the link to Trader Joe’s site.
Have you waited for a nationally known chain to move into your town, what was it, and what did you think after it arrived? Have you ever been to a Trader Joe’s, and if so, did you think it was more flash or more substance? What was your favorite Trader Joe’s food, or what would you be looking forward to the most from Trader Joe’s, and why?
Mark Bialczak 
Pingback: There no place like Trader Joe’s for the #holidays. #gifts #food | Family Life Is More
I became slightly hooked by my visits to one of their Massachusetts stores. I do think the prices are a bit high on certain things, but they’ve got an amazing cheese selection.
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That’s the usual supermarket sweep these days, Lisa. High on some items, low on others. It’s a big shopping Jenga. Trader Joe’s has some good eccentrics compared to mainstream joints, though, including the cheeses.
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I know. It makes me roll my eyes. I don’t think I know anyone who shops solely at one store for every single thing they need. I made two my cut-off, but I have been known to hit up a 3rd at times.
The crowd at Trader Joe’s is a little different than the norm, but I do like the fact that the store is not the size of a football field and is very easy to navigate. I spend more time in line than shopping.
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Yes, smaller is better. I detest the largest of the mega supermarkets. We always opt for the mid-size of the area chains. Three in one day is a lot!
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It’s called insanity.
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I love the Columbus Trader Joe’s and my youngest daughter is always heading there, since she is a natural foods person. I love the variety of olives in the make your own salad, also the ‘healthier’ treats section. So glad you are giving this a try, sometimes it takes a bit to adjust to a new place, but then once you find your niche or favorite areas, you can head on over to them!!
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I love olives, Robin. Thank you for giving me the chance to say that in my brain just now and make myself smile. 🙂 Now I will go to the Trader Joe’s salad section and load up on olive varieties, because Karen loves olives, too. 🙂
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I live very close to a Trader Joe’s so I feel like it’s my duty to clue you in:). The Mediterranean hummus is the best. None of the others compare. Get it and you’ll thank me. Also, the chocolate dipped chocolate chip cookie dippers are pretty darn good. I am trying to go low to no sugar and carbs–so I’ve not been able to have and you may not either–but your wife or daughter will thank you if you buy them:).
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I love hummus with pita bread as the dipper, Kay, so this tip is gold, Kay. And Karen and my daughter indeed are chocolate fans, so, my list of little surprises for Christmas just got started. 🙂 Thank you.
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Quite a lovely place Joe’s is, Chum. He and I get together a few times a month. Yum!
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Many people like his acquaintance, and you, too, I see, Red. 🙂
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Love Trader Joe’s too! We have 3 in Atlanta. Parking is a nightmare, but if you can time it right, it’s the absolute best place to stock up for a dinner party. They have an incredible cheese selection at around half the prices of Publix and fantastic wines for under $10. Amazing things can be found in frozen foods, they have wonderfully inexpensive flowers and even great deals on skin/hair care items. It just gets down to timing the perfect window to get a parking place within 3 blocks of the store.
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It seems to be worth the action, Kimi. Thanks so much for adding to the aura here. 🙂
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We have Trader Joe’s all over here in California. I like the way they put their items that make a nice meal. Tonight we are having Steamed Clams from TJs. It is in the freezer section. Takes 5 minutes in the microwave and I am serving it over linguine. The only thing with TJs here is that they don’t carry a lot of local produce. I prefer local and organic. They do have organic. I really like Whole Foods but they are not as close to where I live. My local markets are now carrying more organic and local as well.
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Wegmans here has a lot of local grown and organic produce, Deborah, and there’s also a weekly Farmer’s market in downtown Syracuse and weekends at our Regional Market. Lots of good local produce choices.
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That’s great. We have Farmer’s markets as well. But I like the convenience of having the produce available at the regular market. It is crazy but here in California where we grow most of the produce for the country that we end up getting stuff that is shipped in from Mexico etc. I think it because they undercut our local growers. But it has improved in that the markets are realizing that the customers want organic.
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I’m glad to hear it’s getting better for you out there. 🙂
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Never been to a Trader Joe’s. I’ll go if I pass one though. Might not spend much dough. But I’ll give it a go. 😉
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Ha. Good rhyme, ‘bra.
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😉 Just for you friend.
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Hey, Mark, I’m wishing now we had a Trader’s Joe’s here. Just Wegman’s and Tops. Perhaps a little bit more competiton would lower the prices a bit. Hmmmm …. Lucky you! Thanks for the lowdown and now that I know about Trader Joe’s I will think it here!!! LOL Love, Amy
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No Price Chopper? We have Aldi’s, too. I know the competition does make them lower some prices, Amy. I hope you get your Trader Joe’s. It’s wild and exotic, like your flower images. 🙂
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Oh wait, we do have Aldi’s. Duh! I hope we DO get a Trader’s Joe’s …. now Syracuse is just a hop and jump from here so who knows. Exotic you say? Way cool! I could go for exotic about right now in my life!!! LOL (((HUGS))) Amy
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I have never been to a Trader Joe’s and really didn’t even know what they sold. Thanks for the insight. 🙂
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A lot of food you don’t eat and some food you do eat, Rachel. 🙂 You’re welcome for that abridged version. 🙂
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Ah, and now I know. Thank you! 🙂
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The really big thing that came to my not so large hometown was MacDonalds! The root beer was taken off the menu almost immediately.
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That’s humorous, Rachel. No McDonald’s root beer allowed in your tiny hometown, huh?
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There’s a Trader Joe’s not too far from me but I’ve yet to visit.
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It’s pretty different than the usual, so worth it for that to start, Kim.
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it is one of my favorite stores in the world. happy you have one near you too ) always an adventure, the workers are so nice, reasonably priced and i never fail to find some unusual food i never knew i needed )
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I did notice that there were different items than I usually eat, Beth. Shall I screw up the courage and try something new, perhaps? 🙂
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yes, yes, yes! absolutely!
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Deep breath. Oh, boy. OK.
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Well, I’ve never actually been to one (I’m fairly sure they aren’t in Oklahoma but I haven’t a clue, honestly), but when we were staying in Colorado my dad and uncle went and bought some “South African” chips there. They were supposed to taste like a braai (barbecue), which they really didn’t, but they did taste just like the beef Simba chips in SA, so I was pretty impressed. They were quite nice.
That is the extent of my experience with Trader Joe’s
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The fact that they could bring that South African taste to you is pretty impressive to me, TA.
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You know. I’ve never been to a Trader Joes, which is pretty upsetting. Especially because I heard they have wine for like $3.
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Yes, Aussa, $3 wine is a draw. I agree. I put the link to their site on my post at waer.org in case you need to find the Trader Joe’s closet to you. 🙂
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I love Trader Joe’s. The closest one to us is about 45 minutes away, but when I am planning a party or event, I take the trip into the crazy Midtown Atlanta traffic. They have a wonderful selection of cheese…..they have a huge variety of interesting and delicious pre-made appetizers….they carry my son’s favorite seaweed chips at a much lower price than the organic dept of our local grocery store…and they carry a shelf safe whipping cream that I make the most amazing chocolate mousse with.
Now…..if we had a Wegman’s here….I may not love Trader Joe’s as much. I really do miss Wegman’s…..although I have learned to make a rye bread dip that is pretty close to their’s, so it’s like a taste of home.
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So you moved from Wegmans territory. Sorry to hear that, Storm Chaser. Weggies’ rye bread dip rocks for sure. Best subs in Syracuse, too, although I still take the Brooklyn Pickle for the sandwich on pumpernickel.
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Yep….I used to live in Owego….just off of rt 17. I used to be a merchandiser for Raymour & Flanigan in JC….so I spent time in the store in DeWitt, as well.
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I think you told me that before, the Owego connection is coming back. Senior moment, I apologize to you, since I am not yet a senior … 🙂 The DeWitt Wegmans is my least favorite. It’s too big. I prefer the medium-sized stores in Cicero and Western Lights. 🙂
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Try the Trader Joe’s Kona coffee, it’s the best!!!
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Great suggerstion, Chess. My dear wife Karen loves Kona coffee …
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I’m a huge Trader Joe’s fan. When I moved to Kentucky and there was no Trader Joe’s it was tough. I kept checking on line to see if one was opening anywhere near me. When one finally came to north Cincinnati we literally drove 4 hours round trip every couple of months with a big cooler just to stock up. Every trip to Ann Arbor or Chicago or Corte Madera, CA involved a trip to Trader Joe’s and hauling as much home as I could fit. I could suggest SO many things (and be sure to check their monthly newsletter for the stuff that only shows up at certain times of year for limited times). I’ll just mention Inner Peas — a wonderful snack that’s nothing but snap peas, oil and salt and is as yummy and satisfying as any salty crunchy snack food I’ve ever had. So I agree with Angie, above, try it some more — if you can go in the evening in the last hour it’s open it’s often more quiet (at least in the ones I know) and a lot easier to meander and check things out.
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OK, Leigh, I am even more thoroughly convinced that Trader Joe’s will become a more regular part of our life. Thank you for sharing the good tips. 🙂
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Sounds cool. If we had a local one, we’d go in for what my cousin procures at her midwest Trader Joe’s: “three buck Chuck.” No place around here sells $3 wine. Not even Walgreen’s. BTW, anything with the word “butter” has my attention.
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Yes, there’s such a difference between inexpensive wine and cheap wine. Boone’s Farm was better than Ripple, I do recall from my teen years, Kerbey. Butter is good. Yes, it is.
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I couldn’t comment on the other site without signing in, it became too complicated. Love trader joe’s but it is too far from our house, but usually I just look and enjoy all they have to offer. The prices are a little high for me, or maybe I’m just cheap.
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I look at every price, and I think I have 1975 recall, Dora. I know what you mean. Thanks for reading my column at waer.org, my friend!
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I’m with Liz! Mark and Karen, you both need to fall in love with Trader Joe’s. It may take a few trips but to fall in love you need to get to know each other a bit 🙂 So start with the obvious stuff, chocolate and wine. Seriously, there have been times when all I have in my (full ahem) cart is wine and chocolate. The 2 buck Chucks http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Shaw_wine are plenty good enough for a big party, especially if you make it into Sangria. And every chocolate, I can vouch, is delish and priced right. Currently, I’m obsessing on the pretty multi-colored chocolate covered sunflower seeds.
If Dave gets drift that I’m having a hard day, there’s a good chance that he’ll bring home a bunch of flowers and something yummy home for me from TJs. I also box the stuff up and ship it to my daughter who doesn’t have a TJs. OK, I need to stop there before I go on and on about their cookies and condiments and how when we travel we search out TJ’s for a healthy, cheap meal 😀
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You are very convincing, Angie McFly. Whew. Very. 😮
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Thanks for handling my “very” graciously, Mark! When you can’t sleep for needing more TJs insider info, I’ll be here 😀
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I will pick your brain, Angie McFly. 🙂 Verily.
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p.s. fun to learn more of the history of the store on your Syracuse blog 🙂
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Thank you for going over the waer.org, Liz. Much appreciated. 🙂 Now I am going for my much-needed, jones-filling read of Food for Fun. 🙂
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There are not enough words in our language for me to accurately convey how much I love love love Trader Joe’s. My girls and I call it our Happy Place as it never fails to cheer us up. The adjoining liquor store has equally good bargains. TJ’s helps me realize what products I hadn’t known I needed (European sipping cocoa? Yes, please.) and their food sometimes jumps into my cart on its own accord. I kid you not. I heart TJ’s. It is the best place ever. Glad you have one in your ‘hood, too.
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OK, Liz, when Food for Fun and daughters call it their Happy Place, “something’s going on around here,” as Joe Jackson sang. Karen and I shall return. Jump into the cart on their own. Yowser. I like products with legs. You started the pun thing on FB, dear Liz. 🙂
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Or just go to the WAER website. (Haha.)
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I feel refreshed seeing your little mug on here, Chris. Haha. 🙂
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I love the salads at Trader Joe’s Mark! Every time I go to the States I will buy something at TJ’s. That’s the one chain I wish would move to Canada! Y’all can take back Walmart and Target. 😀
Diana xo
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We have enough of those, Diana, we don’t have to take back the one’s that spread across the border. 🙂
I’ll put in a good word for Calgary with my new friends. Ha. Seriously, Trader Joe’s started on the west coast, so why they aren’t up there already, I don’t know. Maybe it’s harder to go international. 😦
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Maybe, and sometimes expanding ruins a good thing…yanno when all the MBA’s get in the mix and take away the grass rooty feel and turn it into the post office! 😉
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