On 12 Nov 2004 22:37:44 GMT, Mpoconnor7 > wrote:
> The news here is that they have opened the first Trader Joes here in the Queen
> City. I haven't shopped there yet, and was wondering what the store was all
> about. Is it similar to Jungle Jims International Market?
>
Eh, not really. Trader Joe's is tiny in comparison, and while
it carries some ethnic food items, it's not in international market on
the same scale as Jungle Jim's. (But hell, what is?) They'd be
targeting a similar audience as the people who go to Wild Oats, it's a
specialy grocery store (smaller than Wild Oats, though) that carries a
number of things that's specific to Trader Joe's only.

The produce section is small and has a lot of pre-packaged
stuff and doesn't have as much variety. Their cheese section will
have nothing on Jungle Jim's. But they usually have an interesting
wine section, they offer some neat frozen desserts, good chocolate,
gourmet/organic items, stuff like that. It's a great place to buy
little edible gifts for people around the holidays and they have good
whole milk yogurt. In general, Trader Joe's still worth a look, but
it's not a store I visit much more than once every couple months.
Prices are generally competitive for what they carry, though.

Ariane