Does Austin have a Trader Joes or anything like it? (Center: health insurance, to buy)

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by drpuppers

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

Alrighty...here goes another two-year-old thread re-hash...at least we have Sprouts to add to the conversation. Carry on...

[didadi]

Having lived in both Oregon and Texas, I guess TJ's you will not find an alternative in Austin. :-(.
Whole Foods, Sun Harvest etc are there,but you will not find TJ's variety and specially prices.
May be the reason being TJ's in atleast Oregon has no sales tax + they are not public company yet.
I've been trying to find TJ's alternative in Austin for past 3+ yrs, tried many including farmer's market
but nothing good yet.

PS# My eating habits are purely vegetarian + good mix of Asian/Mediterranean spices..So you can
imagine the type of food / groceries I typically consume.

[Slick Shoes]

Since Whole Foods is headquartered here I have a feeling that this will be one of the last places west of the Mississippi to get a TJ's.

[cub77cub]

TJ's is not the same as Whole Foods. Whole Foods is more of a "health food" store. TJs has unique grocery items. Their buyers just get fabulous deals, which they pass on to consumers. Wine deals at TJs cannot be beat. Sprouts is more competition for Whole Foods, IMO.

Originally Posted by Slick Shoes

Since Whole Foods is headquartered here I have a feeling that this will be one of the last places west of the Mississippi to get a TJ's.

[waimeamom]

I'm always surprised in these "grocery store discussions", that no one mentions Fiesta much. I visited one a few months ago, before I moved here, and was very impressed - For all the amazing imported groceries, the fresh fish and meat, the cheap veggies... it's certainly not fancy, but for prices, selection and quality.... it's a must!

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by didadi

Having lived in both Oregon and Texas, I guess TJ's you will not find an alternative in Austin. :-(.
Whole Foods, Sun Harvest etc are there,but you will not find TJ's variety and specially prices.
May be the reason being TJ's in atleast Oregon has no sales tax + they are not public company yet.
I've been trying to find TJ's alternative in Austin for past 3+ yrs, tried many including farmer's market
but nothing good yet.

PS# My eating habits are purely vegetarian + good mix of Asian/Mediterranean spices..So you can
imagine the type of food / groceries I typically consume.

I suggest you try both Fiesta and Phoenicia.

[love roses]

When I lived in Houston, Fiesta's were all over the place and it's pretty much the only place I shopped unless I went to the Rice Epicurean down the street from me. I actually do like Fiesta but it's a tad too far for me to go.

[TX Challenge]

I am typically reverse order here. As a Texan, I now spend half my time in L.A. No doubt Trader Joe's is awesome, I fail to see that there are not alternatives in the Austin area that are not comparable. Each to their own, and it is what you get used to. I don't see though that if you search, that Austin does not have the same products for the same or lesser prices than Ca. in general. You don't go to one grocery store in Ca. to get everything, nor do you in Austin...

[Nomadic9460678748]

I miss Trader Joe's. Super convenient and certainly less expensive than both Central Market and Whole Foods. And aaaaah, good old Two Buck Chuck! Oh, and the Mac & Cheese! Oh, and the $1.99 Kung Pao boxes! Oh . . . and I should stop. I'm depressing myself. For some reason the Berkeley Bowl kind of reminded me of Central Market. It was one of a kind. A little pricey for me, but a fun little place to treat yourself to some nice produce.

I'm poor. I stick with Herbert E. Butt's chains.

[texastrigirl]

Yeah, you don't have Trader Joes in Texas...but darn it all, you do have Chuys...so stop yer whinin'. I MISS CHUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!