Trader Joes to open in NYC

by Nicole Weston, Posted Jan 19th 2006 @ 9:24AM

trader joes storefront Trader Joe's plans to open their first store in New York City within the next three months. The southern California-based specialty grocery chain already has several locations in New York State, but none in Manhattan. The store will definitely give New Yorkers - particularly those who for some reason do not feel the need to leave the city, ever - a chance to see what they have been missing for all these years.

The new Trader Joe's will be in Union Square, near the huge Whole Foods Market, though its dramatically different stock and lower price points will probably not put it in direct competition with the massive, high-end grocer. Trader Joe's is famous for their generally high-quality prepared and frozen foods, as well as their low prices on specialty goods, from well-priced vanilla extract and high-end chocolates to exotically-spiced curry simmer sauces. Most of the items they carry are sold under their own brand, with some notable exceptions like Charles Shaw wine, which is lovingly referred to in California as "two-buck Chuck".

Some of Slashfood's current Trader Joe's favorites are the Milk Chocolate Calcium Supplements, Mediterranean Potato Gnocchi and Cocoa Hazelnut Spread but we may have a few new ones in the weeks to come.

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Filed Under: Business, Newspapers, Stores & Shopping
Tags: east coast, food, grocery stores, manhattan, markets, new york, new york city, nyc, openings, shopping, specialty grocers, stores-and-shopping, tjs, trader joes

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-21-2006 @12:59PM Bob Carrigan said... I luv Trader Joe's they have some
items u can't seem to find other
places and the prices are the
best. Like 2 buck chuck & those
pop up sponges are a bargin
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1-19-2006 @9:47AM Devin Lussier said... That's all fine and dandy but I wish they'd open one up here in Orlando. Whole Foods just isn't the same!
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1-19-2006 @10:04AM Vincent VAreton said... I have been a 5 star fan of Trader Joe's since living in San DIego. I now live in Ft Lauderdale and constantly ask about a store opening here on the beach. I wanted to open one myself but was told it was privately owned. Ft Lauderdale needs you JOE.
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1-19-2006 @10:11AM Bill said... Wow, you all really like Trader Joes! Just out of curiiosity, what does Trader Joes have that other gourmet grocers not? I don't have one near me, but I've been in a couple in my travels.

Is their product reallt that good?

B
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1-19-2006 @10:14AM Shirley Schlein said... I always bring an empty suitcase to California so that I fill it with Trader Joe's groceries. I'm here in Dallas, Texas. Why open in New York, when we Texans would really appreciate it here?
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1-19-2006 @10:35AM Robin said... Devin, I agree! Orlando NEEDS a Trader Joe's. I love them!!!!!!!! We need some two buck chuck in the Sunshine State!!!!
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1-19-2006 @12:03PM Ann Buck said... We love Trader Joe's too but there's not one in NC. We have Whole Foods but that's not the same as Trader Joe's. Please come to Raleigh
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1-19-2006 @12:23PM Carol Goodwin said... Every time I go home to the Bay area, visit Paradise Valley, AZ or go to CT, I come back to Boca with a suitcase filled with supplies and Trader Joe's withdrawl.

Please help!
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1-19-2006 @12:24PM sarra said... I love to do my shopping in Trader Joes.But I can do it only when I visiting my daugther in Long Island.
I live in Brooklyn and I would like to have your store
in Brooklyn Thank you
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1-19-2006 @12:38PM Jonathan Harford said... The big question is: will it sell booze? The one I went to in Long Island didn't.

Ooh. Now my tummy's growling.
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1-19-2006 @12:43PM rainey said... I wouldn't call TJs a "gourmet" grocery so much as a highly selective one. They carry a nearly full range of products packaged in the same way you'd find them in a conventional store (apples 4-to-a-blister pack, meat hermetically sealed on a foam tray). What's different is that the stock is carefully thought out to be high quality, incomparable price, often unusual and not redundant. When TJs finds a great lemon curd (they HAVE!), that's the one that's on the shelf. No carrying 6 other varieties in case someone wants a different one.

And if things don't move, they're gone! Often I've fallen in love with something like truffle butter or roasted chili cream cheese only to find it history next time I want to stock up.

So I'd describe it less as a "gourmet" grocery than a lean, mean grocery on culinary steroids. It's neither in direct competition with stores like Whole Foods or your neighborhood market. I use WF, a grocery, Costco and TJs and need every one of them.
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1-19-2006 @1:21PM Megan said... Wish they would open one in Pittsburgh. They have quite a following here, and we regularly drive either to Cleveland or one of the stores in VA to get our fix of Trader Joe stuff.
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1-25-2006 @5:56PM yelena said... i live in brooklyn too!!! and i personally cannot wait for one to open up here. but since i go to school in manhattan and union square is just a few train stops away i guess i'll have to make due wiht what i have...or will have when it opens anyway.=) it'll be great to try some of the great products that i hear about on slashfood all the time for myself.
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