Trader Joe's coming to Austin!! (San Antonio, Orange: leasing, landlord, shopping center)

[TexasHorseLady]

There's an amazing variety of food available at Fiesta. It's where I go when I just can't find that ingredient that a recipe from somewhere else (Morocco, India, Argentina, etc., etc., etc.) calls for (and I get it cheap because some folks that shop there consider it a staple!), and I pick up some Arrowhead Mills peanut butter and really nice jellies at the same time. Cleaning supplies I get elsewhere (or make myself, depending on how I'm feeling and how serious the job is ).

So, yes, I can see if the store is four times as big, that would make a significant difference in the experience. But I can pop in and out of Fiesta in no time if I'm in a hurry (as long as I make sure not to go down the wrong aisle and get caught up in all the nummy things I just can't live without even though I never knew they existed until I walked down that aisle!).

[AMJ27]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

Ok, so it sounds like there are some good deals on prepackaged/convenience foods? I guess if that's what you buy, it's a good deal.

I did buy convenience foods at TJ's, but I also bought pretty much all my (mostly organic) produce (we're vegetarians and eat a lot of fruits and veggies), tofu, tempeh, milk, half and half, yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, yummy cheeses, pasta, rice, couscous, beans, maple syrup, sugar, flour, coffee, frozen organic veggies, nuts, and raisins. All the dairy was hormone and antibiotic free before most local chains jumped on that bandwagon. I believe it is the same with the meats.

The only thing that I really don't care for at TJ's is their bread.

I would usually leave TJ's with 4 or 5 large bags of groceries for $90-100.

[Austin97]

Originally Posted by TexasHorseLady

There's an amazing variety of food available at Fiesta. It's where I go when I just can't find that ingredient that a recipe from somewhere else (Morocco, India, Argentina, etc., etc., etc.) calls for (and I get it cheap because some folks that shop there consider it a staple!), and I pick up some Arrowhead Mills peanut butter and really nice jellies at the same time. Cleaning supplies I get elsewhere (or make myself, depending on how I'm feeling and how serious the job is ).

So, yes, I can see if the store is four times as big, that would make a significant difference in the experience. But I can pop in and out of Fiesta in no time if I'm in a hurry (as long as I make sure not to go down the wrong aisle and get caught up in all the nummy things I just can't live without even though I never knew they existed until I walked down that aisle!).

no way. The parking lot at fiesta is huge and is always completely full so you have to park all the way in the back and walk. The place is packed so the checkout lines are long too.

Fiesta definitely does not meet my get in and out fast criteria.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by Jennibc

I've never been to Fiesta so I cannot meaningfully answer. Does Fiesta have Whole Wheat cous cous? The fancy-pants HEB on Escarpment does not. I had to go to Central Market and get it and had to pay three times as much as I did at Trader Joes.

It actually does. I don't shop at Fiesta very often, but they do have a really good international section, and their prices on produce are the lowest I've seen.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by OpenD

No, but because Fiesta is a downscale market and TJs is an upscale market. Most people who shop at Whole Foods won't shop at Fiesta, but they will shop at TJs.

Even in the world of hardcore staples there are different grades and qualities, and TJs trends to the better grades, not the cheapest grades.

But you could say that, in a way, TJs is the Fiesta of upscale grocers.

Confused. So...from reading this thread with an open mind.....TJs doesn't compete on price. It competes on its house brands for convenience foods. Right?

Also, you'd be surprised by what Fiesta sells. Their international section is excellent- better than CM or WF, by far- and by international, I mean Asian, European, and Hispanic.

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by 10scoachrick

I've only been in one Fiesta and it was at least four times the size of TJ's. I will say, if you want full-chemical, noxious cleaning supplies, Fiesta had an aisle-full. (That WAS a couple of years ago, so maybe some more 'healthful' options are available now)

Don't all full scale grocery stores carry "full chemical, noxious cleaning supplies"?

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by AMJ27

I did buy convenience foods at TJ's, but I also bought pretty much all my (mostly organic) produce (we're vegetarians and eat a lot of fruits and veggies), tofu, tempeh, milk, half and half, yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, yummy cheeses, pasta, rice, couscous, beans, maple syrup, sugar, flour, coffee, frozen organic veggies, nuts, and raisins. All the dairy was hormone and antibiotic free before most local chains jumped on that bandwagon. I believe it is the same with the meats.

The only thing that I really don't care for at TJ's is their bread.

I would usually leave TJ's with 4 or 5 large bags of groceries for $90-100.

Well, thanks for that. I appreciate your thorough shopping list! I'll check it out.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

Confused. So...from reading this thread with an open mind.....TJs doesn't compete on price. It competes on its house brands for convenience foods. Right?

It's hard to triangulate, and different people have different reasons for shopping at TJs, so maybe we should all just shut up now and let y'all decide for yourselves.

But I'll try again... it's a Foodie haven, with the kinds of tasty treats that WF and CM carry, but at lower prices. And as a pioneer in bringing organics and natural foods to market, but without the "health food store" positioning, they bring in health conscious customers who like good food and are adventurous, but who don't want to spend the family fortune. Their prices are good, sometimes astonishing, but they are not the Dollar Store.

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

Also, you'd be surprised by what Fiesta sells. Their international section is excellent- better than CM or WF, by far- and by international, I mean Asian, European, and Hispanic.

I'm very familiar with Fiesta, and like the previous poster I hate struggling with the parking there at 38 1/2 street. (On the other hand, I don't think the new location for TJs bodes well for either traffic or parking there.) And I'm not crazy about the feeling of wandering through the slums to get into the place. And cleanliness? It's clearly a downscale market. Fiesta cashiers? Relatively bored and clueless. I'm always a little depressed when I leave Fiesta, like I somehow coulda done better.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by Austin97

no way. The parking lot at fiesta is huge and is always completely full so you have to park all the way in the back and walk. The place is packed so the checkout lines are long too.

Fiesta definitely does not meet my get in and out fast criteria.

Hmmm. I rarely have this problem (even when I'm driving Sam I Am, the Dodge Ram long-bed pickup), though if I do have to walk I just figure it's my exercise for the day - same thing counts for any grocery with a decent-sized parking lot so you can actually find a parking space. And I've rarely had to take more than five minutes in a checkout line. Trader Joe's is faster than that in spite of being so incredibly popular that just everyone who's anyone shops there?

[mimimomx3]

Originally Posted by OpenD

It's hard to triangulate, and different people have different reasons for shopping at TJs, so maybe we should all just shut up now and let y'all decide for yourselves.

But I'll try again... it's a Foodie haven, with the kinds of tasty treats that WF and CM carry, but at lower prices. And as a pioneer in bringing organics and natural foods to market, but without the "health food store" positioning, they bring in health conscious customers who like good food and are adventurous, but who don't want to spend the family fortune. Their prices are good, sometimes astonishing, but they are not the Dollar Store.



I'm very familiar with Fiesta, and like the previous poster I hate struggling with the parking there at 38 1/2 street. (On the other hand, I don't think the new location for TJs bodes well for either traffic or parking there.) And I'm not crazy about the feeling of wandering through the slums to get into the place. And cleanliness? It's clearly a downscale market. Fiesta cashiers? Relatively bored and clueless. I'm always a little depressed when I leave Fiesta, like I somehow coulda done better.

Well, I'm definitely going to try it, although like you, the parking deters me a bit. Unlike you, I don't consider the area around Fiesta to be the "slums". It's fun and funky, which is what Austin is...or was....