Hellobee Boards

I'm in the "meh" too. I was hoping for a better selection of organic meats and such and found that I got better stuff for slightly cheaper at Wegman's. So I couldn't justify going there.

I'm in the meh category, too. There are some things I like from there (like the kettle corn in the pink and white striped bag---sooo good), but the things I like there tend to be the packaged things, so it's not really good for me and I try to avoid it. They do have frozen chocolate croissants that you let rise overnight that are INSANE. They taste like the real deal from a french bakery.

They have some things--like organic milk--just a teensy bit cheaper than other places.

I'm in the meh category. I used to go to one every week for a couple of years because my yarn store was nearby. Since LO arrived, I don't go there. I don't feel that I'm missing out on certain foods, etc. There's an Aldi's near us which is in the same family corporation as Trader Joe's. The products are comparable, so I don't feel like I'm missing out.

Meh for me, like PP prepared items are good .

For me, Trader Joe's is awesome for impulse purchases and fun little treats. It doesn't quite cut it for me as a regular grocery store because, as others have noted, the produce section is typically pretty limited.

We were really excited when TJ's first opened in our area, but once the novelty wore off, it's kind of meh.

I haven't been that impressed with the produce, in terms of how fresh it is. I find it tends to go bad a lot more quickly than produce I buy at the regular grocery store. The only produce we really like to buy there is bananas, because they're cheap there and we go through them really fast, and avocados, same reason.

I'm gluten free and while they have some good options there, they have way less GF stuff than other stores. It's hard for me to find GF crackers, cookies, cereal, pasta (at least the kind I like), etc, there. They have GF wraps and tortillas but they kind of suck.

They do have some novelty items that I love, but I wouldn't be heartbroken or feel like I was missing out if we didn't have one in our area. In fact, we probably haven't been there in a couple months.

ETA: Our TJ's doesn't sell wine because of the weird liquor laws in our state. Alcohol beverages above a certain content % can't be sold in grocery stores. So that definitely takes away from the appeal that TJ's has in other states!

there are certain things that are really inexpensive like free range organic chicken stock. i also love their freeze dried fruit for the kids and nut selection. and in ny where groceries are obscenely expensive, tj's is still affordable.

there isn't one close by so i go once a month. if there were one within walking distance, i would definitely go regularly!

I love tjs! The produce isn't amazing, but they makes lazy foods better for me. I am lazy & I often eat crap, but if I'm gonna eat premade turkey meatballs or a cheese puff, I feel like theirs are healthier than mainstream grocers and less $$ than whole foods. I do love wegmans, we have both maybe 2 miles apart, and I go to each for different things- if I want food already cooked or a lot of produce, I go to wegmans, if I wanna stock up on lazy meals to make myself, I go to tjs.

I'm "meh". I'm a gluten free vegetarian, and I don't find a lot there that fits into my diet. I think it's hard to navigate & they don't always have the best produce selection. But, I love their hummus and fresh flowers ... Not that it matters now, but they have a great wine selection.

We have a Wegmans and WF and TJs within a few minutes of us and I find that we never go to TJs. Maybe because they chose a location with super inconvenient parking and I feel like it's not worth battling it out for things I can find at the other stores. Ours doesn't have the cheap wine but then again, we live in the land of wine megastores so it's not necessary either! I guess there's just too much overlap around here.

Stores like that are so expensive. I like going to Earth Fare, which is near me, but Trader Joe's is really far away. I like going once in a while, but I can't on a regular basis.

I'm eh about it. There's only less than half a mile away from the house. There are some things I like about it (yay for 3 buck chuck), but there's nothing there that I'm like OMG! about yet.

Meh. I have heard people say how reasonable the prices are and I just don't see it. Reasonable compared to what - Whole Foods? Certainly not Walmart. I'll go there for certain specific things I can't find elsewhere like frozen dumplings. I used to get raw pizza dough there but they have upped the price and I can find it cheaper at my grocery store (see above).

I always partake in the free samples and sometimes walk out with a chocolate bar with cookie butter filling. 2 buck chuck has become 3 buck chuck, btw.

@mediagirl: I only go for advertised deals and their sushi. Most of their stuff is expensive

Are there any Dallas or Texas bees here that have Central Market? I've never been to a Wegman's before, but the way people in this thread are talking about it, I imagine it to be like Central market, which is the best grocery store of all time.

ALL TIME. I super wish they would expand and I could get one up here in the NE. (sad face). Maybe one day!!!!

http://www.yelp.com/biz/central-market-dallas

TJ's is awesome. Like others have said, you can't do all of your grocery shopping there but I use them for a lot of meal starters. I love their jarred sauces (italian, indian etc) where I can add my own meat and veggies and serve over rice or noodles and call it dinner. I find a lot of their stuff is a lot less processed than what you find in the grocery stores. I also love their frozen section. Their frozen veggies just seem better to me than the frozen ones you get in the grocery store. And they have other frozen meal starters like mushroom pasta or risotto that I can just add some meat to in order to make a full meal. I agree that their produce section isn't the best but cheap wine!!! Can't beat that!

I think TJs is great if you like to buy a lot of prepackaged/prepared foods. Their produce isn't good at all. I do like their dried fruit selection and cheap wine offerings though.

I liked TJs compared to what the alternative was when we lived elsewhere. Honestly, though, I'm pretty sure it will be hard to best Wegmans. Love Wegmans, and their prices are super reasonable!

@Anagram: I loveeee central market! I don't live near one, but there is one in my hometown.

I think TJ has fun stuff, but again, I don't live near one so I can definitely live without it.