Does Austin have a Trader Joes or anything like it?

[passionatearts]

There ought to be an Austin FAQ specifically for Californians moving here so that we don't have to constantly get asked by them why there isn't a Trader Joe's in Austin.

[TexasHorseLady]

Originally Posted by passionatearts

There ought to be an Austin FAQ specifically for Californians moving here so that we don't have to constantly get asked by them why there isn't a Trader Joe's in Austin.

"Because you're not in Kansas any more, Dorothy."

[mark311]

I guess it makes more sense that people are saying they miss Trader Joe's because of the cheap wine and I assume other alcohol. I just never thought it was that great because it's so small and crowded. I would stop by the ones in Sunnyvale or in Campbell (CA) on a weekend and it just wasn't worth the trouble of fighting the crowds for me to get a couple boxes of Clif bars. At the time I think individual bars were only 10 cents cheaper than Whole Foods anyway.

I don't drink, so the wine doesn't appeal to me. They had a lot of imported chocolate and stuff like that. I rarely eat chocolate and try to only eat sweets when I go out some place, so that wasn't a big deal. It wasn't really a health food place in my opinion. They would pile the chocolate up right by the registers so people would make impulse buys. I guess you can chalk me up as an ex-Californian that doesn't really care if Trader Joe's ever makes it to Texas.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by mark311

I guess it makes more sense that people are saying they miss Trader Joe's because of the cheap wine and I assume other alcohol. I just never thought it was that great because it's so small and crowded. I would stop by the ones in Sunnyvale or in Campbell (CA) on a weekend and it just wasn't worth the trouble of fighting the crowds for me to get a couple boxes of Clif bars.

Yeah, it's so crowded, nobody goes there any more! (Apologies to Groucho or Yogi or whomever).

One category that I miss from TJ's is reasonably priced organic products such as coffee and cereals. TJ's organic decaf was actually less than most regular coffee from other 'quality' suppliers.

[motherofthree]

I am so tired of people assuming that if you love Trader Joes then you must be from California. Well, I'm from Chicago and I love Trader Joes. They are all over Chicago. Trader Joes has REASONABLY priced organic products. I just don't know how people can afford Whole Foods.

[Nomadic9460678748]

I agree with you mother. I was born in Texas, but lived in California long enough to enjoy Trader Joe's more than I have ever enjoyed Central Market or Whole Foods. I can't afford either of them. But I am glad that HEB has started carrying my favorite IPA from California, Lagunitas. And other people must also be pleased because the d*mn beer is always sold out whenever I go to Hancock Center to buy it! Before anyone blames Californians, it's probably just the Hyde Park Highbrow crowd. They're a discriminating bunch.

Oh, and my Trader Joe's in Oakland was never really that crowded. It was also a fairly new one right near Lake Merritt. So I never had an issue with crowds.