For most of my life, I have not been a fan of Trader Joe's. The store seemed strange and I didn't recognize any of the brands there. When I moved here to Philadelphia, I had only two grocery options: Trader Joe's (at 21st and Market) and Rite Aid (corner of 23rd and Walnut). Rite Aid has groceries? Well not really. Just some cereals, milk, junk food, etc. So I went to Trader Joe's.Initially, I was frustrated by the long lines and lack of familiar items. But over time, I have become Trader Joe's biggest fan. Here's why:
- It's Cheap. I think that comparable items are, on average, 5-10% cheaper at Trader Joes than they are at traditional grocery stores like Safeway.
- It's Healthy. You won't find a lot of junk food, but that's not to say that everything is 0 Calories and 0 Fat. You will get less healthy food, but it's not as bad as other places. Also, Trader Joes products are as close to 'all natural', so you can avoid potentially unhealthy chemicals. I've noticed that after a few weeks of eating Trader Joes' food, I have more energy and feel lighter on my feet. There is something to be said for natural indgredients - maybe it's just easier for the body to metabolize.
- Variety. You can get some pretty different things over here. Trader Joes' goes all over the world to find interesting concotions to put in their stores.
- Good music. Trader Joes plays good music in its stores - or at least it does in the Philadelphia one. Usually I get to listen to classic rock.
- Free samples. There are always free samples at one of the booths, and they are really good.
- Taste. By making their products 'all natural' and being very selective, Trader Joes has succeeded in making their food taste distinctively better than competitors' foods. This took me a while to realize, but it is true. From the bread to the frozen food, there is a difference in taste.
3 comments:
Ravi, I am glad you finally discovered my favorite store. Going to Trader Joes is my way of getting rid of Sunday Blues. I tend to go right around 2 PM in the afternoon, so I can taste their good Coffee, sample a small piece of cake (when they have vegetarian stuff). Also, at the end of my shopping I go back to have a sip of their juice!! What an experience. Have you tasted their Walnut bread? It is the best. Most importantly, I like the spirit of the shopkeepers there. They are always cheerful and energetic. By the time I come out of there, I do feel lighter in spirits and in my purse :=)
Ravi, I am glad you finally discovered my favorite store. Going to Trader Joes is my way of getting rid of Sunday Blues. I tend to go right around 2 PM in the afternoon, so I can taste their good Coffee, sample a small piece of cake (when they have vegetarian stuff). Also, at the end of my shopping I go back to have a sip of their juice!! What an experience. Have you tasted their Walnut bread? It is the best. Most importantly, I like the spirit of the shopkeepers there. They are always cheerful and energetic. By the time I come out of there, I do feel lighter in spirits and in my purse :=)
There's a really great big supermarket on 50th and Walnut (or something like that. Also, Conshohocken has another wonderful, huge supermarket... I would drive there when I just needed to be out of the city. :)
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