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Trader Joe's Coming to Houston

Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 10:22 am
by WildBill
I have been waiting for this since I moved to Texas. IMO it's better news that the In-N-Out Burger coming to the Dallas Ft. Worth area. :lol:

For those who are not familar with this chain, Trader Joe's sells a line of private-label items and keep costs low by buying in volume and directly from suppliers. It has more than 350 locations in 29 states. They are original distributors of the famous "Two Buck Chuck" wine [Charles Shaw Winery].

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/bus ... 49243.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Trader Joe's Coming to Houston

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 10:33 pm
by pbwalker
WildBill wrote:I have been waiting for this since I moved to Texas. IMO it's better news that the In-N-Out Burger coming to the Dallas Ft. Worth area. :lol:

For those who are not familar with this chain, Trader Joe's sells a line of private-label items and keep costs low by buying in volume and directly from suppliers. It has more than 350 locations in 29 states. They are original distributors of the famous "Two Buck Chuck" wine [Charles Shaw Winery].

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/bus ... 49243.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Instead of starting a new thread, I'll just reply to this one. I went to TJ's for the first time today...I'm not seeing it. Seems overpriced. For example, bananas are $0.19 each. Roughly $1.00 a pound...more than 2X the cost of HEB.

I noticed they had a RED 51% sign at the door...checked the TABC site and they are supposed to have a blue sign. They have now been reported. :smash:

Re: Trader Joe's Coming to Houston

Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 11:47 pm
by philip964
It is a grocery store with nothing but store brands. The nuts I bought were good. But thats all I found I wanted to buy.

Re: Trader Joe's Coming to Houston

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 12:23 am
by psijac
i am still eaiting for Krispy Kreme to come to houston

Re: Trader Joe's Coming to Houston

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 12:34 am
by apostate
psijac wrote:i am still eaiting for Krispy Kreme to come to houston
They have been gone 6.5 years now, so I hope you're not holding your breath. ;-)

Re: Trader Joe's Coming to Houston

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 2:33 am
by WildBill
pbwalker wrote:
WildBill wrote:I have been waiting for this since I moved to Texas. IMO it's better news that the In-N-Out Burger coming to the Dallas Ft. Worth area. :lol:

For those who are not familar with this chain, Trader Joe's sells a line of private-label items and keep costs low by buying in volume and directly from suppliers. It has more than 350 locations in 29 states. They are original distributors of the famous "Two Buck Chuck" wine [Charles Shaw Winery].

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/bus ... 49243.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Instead of starting a new thread, I'll just reply to this one. I went to TJ's for the first time today...I'm not seeing it. Seems overpriced. For example, bananas are $0.19 each. Roughly $1.00 a pound...more than 2X the cost of HEB.

I noticed they had a RED 51% sign at the door...checked the TABC site and they are supposed to have a blue sign. They have now been reported. :smash:
Maybe I just remember TJs having better stuff, but I've been there twice and haven't been that impressed. Most of the things I bought in the California stores they don't carry in Houston. They rotate the items they carry depending on the availability, so maybe they don't carry them anymore. It has been 10 years since I moved to Texas.

I have never looked closely at the produce. I have found a couple of good items, but not enough for me to go out of my way.

Re: Trader Joe's Coming to Houston

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 8:27 am
by knotquiteawake
Things to get from TJs:
Try some of the breads, specifically the Tandori Naan bread (middle eastern flatbread). Its really good. I actually make a dessert out of it by broiling it with butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. The flatbread is also great with any Indian Dishes.
Speaking of Indian food! You should try their cooking sauces. They have a yellow and a red curry sauce. Try both. I prefer the Yellow Curry sauce. They also have this sauce called "General Tsao's" its really good for stir fry.
Try their roasted red pepper and tomato soup, its great with some grilled cheese. Speaking of Cheese, they have a pretty good selection thats reasonably priced.
Also, if you like home made pizza you MUST try their pizza dough! Its great. Very fresh, just enough "yeastyess" and the crust is crisp but slightly chewy.
Their sweets are great too. I love the chocolate covered espresso beans. The triple ginger snaps are good too.
They have some great frozen treats too.

My suggestion, would be to stay away from produce there, its going to be more expensive because its not their high volume product.

Try things you would not normally buy

Buy the wine. Its great for a $3 bottle of wine. Not going to be the best wine ever but for $3! Can't lose.

Re: Trader Joe's Coming to Houston

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 2:06 pm
by sjfcontrol
Do they "trade" in firearms?

Re: Trader Joe's Coming to Houston

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 3:10 pm
by knotquiteawake
sjfcontrol wrote:Do they "trade" in firearms?
Nope, but despite being a yuppie California based company they are not posted 30.06.

Re: Trader Joe's Coming to Houston

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 3:16 pm
by anygunanywhere
Mrs. Anygunanywhere and I shopped at the TJs when we lived in Kalifornia. The Two Buck Chuck was acceptable but did not suit Mrs. Anygunanywhere's palate. I doubt if we will go out of our way to shop there. We will prolly go once for novelty's sake and see if they have anything we need. They do carry grass fed beef and free range yardbird and the like. I do like free range eggs.

Lots of hairy armpitted women shop there if you like that sort.

Anygunanywhere

Re: Trader Joe's Coming to Houston

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 3:51 pm
by Abraham
"free range yardbird" ah, wouldn't that be an escaped prisoner?

I couldn't help it....

Re: Trader Joe's Coming to Houston

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 6:42 pm
by cheezit
being from cali, i can say they used to be a good store with some great stuff. sounds disappointing now.
i just want a tommy burger

Re: Trader Joe's Coming to Houston

Posted: Fri Dec 28, 2012 7:06 pm
by JALLEN
There are several TJs around here. I seldom go to any of them.

They did have a bake yourself baguette that I bought a good many of, but now nearly everybody has them.

Two Buck Chuck is vile, nasty stuff. A realtor here was talking that up, so we tried it. Ewwww, nasty. It might have been the product referred to when whatzizname came up with the line about the cheapest oats have already been run through the horse. If all you have is $2-3 to spend on wine, do yourself a favor, stay sober!

They have weird cheeses, weird veggies, frozen all kinds of stuff that hippies and college professors favor.