Does Austin have a Trader Joes or anything like it? (Houston: sales, buyers)

[love roses]

We love specs! Of course, coming from Houston, we used to go there all the time. It's generally a liquor store(one of the best selections around), but they expanded into foods and have just about everything a regular store has (foodwise), only more exotic. Grapevine is similar, but on a wayyy smaller scale.

[ITChick]

Originally Posted by TheHarvester

There is one place that has a wee bit of TJ's feel to it. It's called Spec's. - SPEC's Liquors Online: Wines, Spirits, Cigars and Finer Foods

They apparently have 3 locations in Austin. It's a huge spacious store with a ton of interesting products, huge wine, beer and liquor selection, a deli, and some decent prices though nothing as cheap as TJ's.

The similarities are limited mainly to the fact that you can get a lot of exotic sauces, snacks and ethnic foods for relatively good prices at this new store, which is part of a chain based in Houston. I spoke with a worker there who said that many of their customers have been saying how it reminds them a bit of TJ's but it's NOT as good in most ways other than they're way bigger and more spacious. Most TJ's make money by cutting every imaginable type of cost, that's how they keep their prices low, so most of them have bad parking and are really crowded inside. But they're so good at offering just what you want at phenomenal prices...

Yeah TJ's also keeps the prices low by mainly selling their own products (which are oh so good!). I call them "Gourmet Generics".

Thanks for the info on Spec's. I followed the link and it sounds like someplace I would want to shop at.

[imaterry78259]

Austin has the No 1 grocery store in America, the downtown WF and a San Antonio based store call Central Markets

[TheHarvester]

Originally Posted by ITChick

Yeah TJ's also keeps the prices low by mainly selling their own products (which are oh so good!). I call them "Gourmet Generics".

I know two people who have been suppliers to Trader Joe's. TJ's is not a food manufacturer. They take over small producers by buying their entire product line (for a given item) and that gives them the power to squeeze the supplier for every last drop of blood, including the brand names and design of the packaging.

You don't get prices like TJ's offers without a lot of sacrifice on the part of suppliers. It's fairly straight-forward economics. TJ's is a ruthless buyer, they're in the same league with WalMart in their treatment of the small companies whose products they buy.

But it's capitalism. They're not doing anything wrong. It's just tough for the supplier. TJ's is in the business of distribution, merchandising and retailing. They do those things very well.

[drpuppers]

I think Trader Joe's is a bit expensive, personally.

[TexasHorseLady]

Sprouts has just opened. On opening day, some prices were good, others were about the same as HEB, and some things I've only seen available there. Give them a try to try to satisfy your Trader Joe's habit.

[nomore07]

Saw the old comment about Wheatsville, it's a great place and has since been vastly renovated.

There are threads in many of the forums asking about Trader Joe's. I went to one while visiting the west coast and didn't really see anything there that isn't available at the other stores mentioned. You'll survive!

[twange]

Oh no...Return of Trader Joe's...showing at a forum near you.

[Cathy4017]

Originally Posted by imaterry78259

Austin has the No 1 grocery store in America, the downtown WF and a San Antonio based store call Central Markets

Doesn't Central Market in Austin put Trader Joe's to shame?

I've never been to a TJ, but I cannot imagine anything even touching what Austin's biggest Central Market has to offer.

[texastrigirl]

Originally Posted by Cathy4017

Doesn't Central Market in Austin put Trader Joe's to shame?

I've never been to a TJ, but I cannot imagine anything even touching what Austin's biggest Central Market has to offer.

Don't knock TJ's until you have been there!! The only thing they have in common is that you can buy groceries there. Both are absolutely terrific stores. TJ's is just far less expensive and has far less choice and is a much smaller store concept...and in most cases they carry one brand of something (say sour cream) that they have determined is the best of the brand. That being said, all the choices you do have are wonderfully tasting and there are some things there that I now could not live without. There are definitely days I miss CM...it is one of the best grocery stores in America IMO...but they are not even the same type of store concept.