Trader Joe's might be coming to St. Pete (Tampa, St. Petersburg: lease, buying)

[gypsychic]

I was just shopping at Trader Joe's in Sarasota and I was asking the cashier about additional stores opening in the future. He mentioned Tampa and St. Pete, and I said I heard about Tampa, but was he sure about St. Pete - anyway, he said he was, that it was just announced last week, but no location or specifics about it. I guess it would be in the works for the next year-and-a-half based on what he told me.

So there you go - another TJ rumour! I'm sure you guys in St. Pete would love one.

[sinatras]

hmmm

i'm not sure that tampa bay can sustain more than one TJ's; there's a lot of cheapskates here who will not shop there
people who will NOT "get" TJ's, what the "fuss" and "hype" is about
who would never be caught dead buying cajun vegan meatloaf or chai coconut breath minths
who will have their 50-year allegiances to publix
and so on

[Sunshinecc]

Yay! Hmmm, they *must* be planning the opening for when I move down there!

[tjax1000]

It would do very well in St. Petersburg. I had not heard this and can't find any info to confirm it, but St. Pete does seem to be an obvious choice for expansion.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by tjax1000

It would do very well in St. Petersburg. I had not heard this and can't find any info to confirm it, but St. Pete does seem to be an obvious choice for expansion.

They are always very hush-hush about expansion plans. I am sure you won't hear a peep until they select a site and sign a lease. But this guy seemed very sure. He says probably a year or year and a half.

[Sun Dance]

I've never been to a Trader Joe's. How does it compare to Whole Foods Market? I wouldn't want to live anyplace without a health food store fairly close. There's WF's on the Tampa side and in Pinellas the Natures Food Patch and it's just like Whole Foods.

I looked at Trader Joe's web site. The few things listed are found only in specialty stores ... Tofu Edamame Nuggets, Korean Kimchi, etc. It's good to see that Trader Joe's donates to local food banks. I think St. Pete is a good location.

[Sunshinecc]

Originally Posted by Sun Dance

I've never been to a Trader Joe's. How does it compare to Whole Foods Market? I wouldn't want to live anyplace without a health food store fairly close. There's WF's on the Tampa side and in Pinellas the Natures Food Patch and it's just like Whole Foods.

I looked at Trader Joe's web site. The few things listed are found only in specialty stores ... Tofu Edamame Nuggets, Korean Kimchi, etc. It's good to see that Trader Joe's donates to local food banks. I think St. Pete is a good location.

Trader Joe's operates on a very unique business model, including (or especially) with the products they sell. Here's an interesting article written up on them in case you're interested: Why Trader Joe's Stands Out From All the Rest in the Grocery Business - Forbes

Cost aside, Trader Joe's is not a market where you could...or would...do your weekly shopping. It is, however, a great place for specialty items and for that unique ingredient, selection of cheese, and various natural and organic product. I have my favorites and i'll stop in whenever i run low but i always look for something new to try. They are small in size and selection but the fact that they are very different from the other natural/whole food stores is probably what keeps it exciting to go back time and again.

[gypsychic]

I do like Trader Joe's, however to me it is a specialty store, which I visit about once per month for all the "special goodies." It does NOT compare to Whole Foods, which is a far larger and has a more comprehensive selection of healthy and organic groceries, etc. To me TJ is more comparable to The Fresh Market in a way. By the way, while there are some good deals on some things at this store (TJ), it is not really what I consider "cheap" as some people are always saying. They have some of the exact same things at Super Target for the exact same price. Some of the cookies etc. I see at Publix, under another name but the SAME price, so they aren't really much cheaper except on certain items (cheese, wine, olive oil) But it does serve a niche.

I have heard Whole Foods is looking at downtown St. Pete as well, but since I don't live there, not sure what the time frame is for that one. St. Pete will have it all very soon!

[Sun Dance]

Originally Posted by Sunshinecc

Trader Joe's operates on a very unique business model, including (or especially) with the products they sell. Here's an interesting article written up on them in case you're interested: Why Trader Joe's Stands Out From All the Rest in the Grocery Business - Forbes

Cost aside, Trader Joe's is not a market where you could...or would...do your weekly shopping. It is, however, a great place for specialty items and for that unique ingredient, selection of cheese, and various natural and organic product. I have my favorites and i'll stop in whenever i run low but i always look for something new to try. They are small in size and selection but the fact that they are very different from the other natural/whole food stores is probably what keeps it exciting to go back time and again.

My kind of store! I'm signed up for the Fearless Flyer!

[Sunshinecc]

Originally Posted by Sun Dance

My kind of store! I'm signed up for the Fearless Flyer!

lol...nice!

btw, I meant to add that their prices aren't bad at all considering they are a higher end type store. In fact, they market their own nut milks (almond, coconut, etc.) and the cartons were priced below anywhere else I get them. They also have added, as have Whole Foods, cartons of coconut water, for $1.99, which is better priced than the non-exclusive branded ones.

p.s. be on the lookout for bell ringing...and that's all I'm going to say