Trader Joe's is opening in ONE WEEK! (Tampa, Sarasota: chapel, buying)

[planedition]

It is 1 week until Opening Day (March 21). Let us rejoice.

Now before everyone gets their panties in a twist about the lack of parking at the Tampa Trader Joe's,

AND THERE WILL BE A LACK OF PARKING,

PLEASE NOTE that the MAJORITY of urban (and even suburban) Trader Joe's lack sufficient parking for the mobs and mobs of people who shop there. This is because Trader Joe's doesn't like to invest in parking lots. They like to invest in their products and in their employees.

If you go to Trader Joe's in Tampa, whether it's next week or next year, EXPECT TO PARK FAR FAR AWAY and don't even bother complaining, because we are LUCKY to even have a store in our midst. And please know that most other people shopping at Trader Joe's around the country are having the SAME problems finding a parking space that you will in Tampa.

Get over it, move on, park a block away and go get your Two Buck Chuck.

[gypsychic]

LOL - you must be over the moon! Yeah, the one here in Sarasota is ridiculous regarding the parking. I usually just park in the back outside the fence at the backside of the store rather than deal with the mayhem.

Now you Tampa-ites don't have to come down here anymore!

[Pragmaticus]

You make it sound like Trader Joe is handing items for free, lol.

Relax. If you are paying, there are lots of other choices around. Those who drive all the way to Sarasota can have it .

[Shorty458]

It's great they have one in Tampa now... I just wish they would open up a Whole Foods or Trader Joes in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. To get to the new TJ's it will take me about 40 mins, and that is w/o traffic!

[EngGirl]

I agree I rather see it somewhere closer to North Tampa.
Even though I like TJ, I don't see myself going there at all because I don't have time and don't really want to deal with parking issues. I rather pay a little extra and get what I need at other store. If Tampa store will have the same limited layout inside it will be bad too. I understand this concept with no real parking in urban cities (Florida has nothing like it, hello?!) and have a small store (because you have more than 1 location within 50 miles, so not entire city is rushed to the same store), but it's not a winner for sure.

I didn't get TJ's cheap wine. Walmart has $2-3 bottles as well as Whole Foods (3 or 4 bucks) and I don't see people buying cases as a time. I tried TJ's cheap wine I didn't like it.

[stpeteguy]

I deal with Mazzaros's parking, I can deal with anything.

[vaughanwilliams]

Originally Posted by stpeteguy

I deal with Mazzaros's parking, I can deal with anything.

Not too bad during the week but it's crazy during the weekend.

[sinatras]

Like I've said before, for every one person who doesn't "get" the Trader Joe's hype and is perfectly fine shopping at Walmart or Publix or Target, there's 50 people who would die just to get themselves one Trader Joe's bottled water, let alone all the millions of foodstuffs that only Trader Joe's sells (frozen Thai soups, cherry-chocolate-almond hand pies, freshly squeezed pineapple juice, produce from California and the West Cast that you won't find anywhere else, like marionberries, etc.). So just be prepared for gridlock, lack of parking and lines. That's just how it is. Everywhere. And it's bound to be worse here, b/c there will be people from all over the region hitting the one, single, solitary (for now) Tampa Bay store.

[DUNNDFRNT]

Originally Posted by sinatras

Like I've said before, for every one person who doesn't "get" the Trader Joe's hype and is perfectly fine shopping at Walmart or Publix or Target, there's 50 people who would die just to get themselves one Trader Joe's bottled water, let alone all the millions of foodstuffs that only Trader Joe's sells (frozen Thai soups, cherry-chocolate-almond hand pies, freshly squeezed pineapple juice, produce from California and the West Cast that you won't find anywhere else, like marionberries, etc.). So just be prepared for gridlock, lack of parking and lines. That's just how it is. Everywhere. And it's bound to be worse here, b/c there will be people from all over the region hitting the one, single, solitary (for now) Tampa Bay store.

That stretch of Dale Mabry is the worst even before TJ's, people are always turning left into a parking lot so they stop in the middle of the road then the people behind cut you off trying to to get around, and its bad pretty much all day, its probably worse from 12-3 than rush hour, I avoid Dale Mabry at all costs. All the residents of that area probably already have the "5 min parking" south tampa yard signs that you see everywhere, I dont think those are even enforceable, I live fairly close to Bayshore and some of my neighbors always put those out during gasparilla I think they are useless.

[Trigger-f]

Not sure what the big hype is.. maybe stick with Publix (at least it's from FL). Also TJ is owned by Aldi (German co.) and I see a hole bunch of controversies and criticism on line. As usual people going bananas for something different.