Trader Joe’s Watch: Minnetonka?
Hard to believe the first Twin Cities Trader Joe’s only just opened last summer. Since it all started in St Louis Park, a TJ’s has opened in Woodbury West Maple Grove, another will open soon (or may already be open) in Maple Grove East Woodbury, and plans have fallen through in St Paul and Minneapolis.
Now TJ’s is on its way to opening in Minnetonka.
The Business Journal previously reported that Monrovia, Calif.-based company plans to build a 12,000-square-foot, stand-alone store on the mall’s property this fall. It would be located along Ridgedale Drive, near the Macy’s Men’s and Home store.
The company has submitted plans to the City of Minnetonka, which the planning commission will review at its Oct. 25 meeting. The planning commission will make a recommendation to the City Council, which will discuss the issue at its November meeting.
w00t!
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This is really pissing me off. Why can’t we get one in the city? I know of a spot on 38th and Hiawatha that would be perfect for me, and just a block from Light Rail.
I don’t get the trader joes grocery phenomenon….I do like the beer and wine…but not the grocerys.
I mean how many almonds and wasabi peas can one person eat?
I think the thing about TJ’s is the a) the frozen stuff (if you like that sort of thing) and b) some “different” food items for cheaper than you’d get them at Whole Foods/Lunds/Byerly’s/Kowalski’s.
Have you tried their soy & flax seed chips?! Or their apple cider? Serious yum! They also have a small selection of wonderful cheeses (to go with your whine) and fresh organic fruit.
Plus, as Erica said, I can carry 4 full grocery bags out of there for under $50. At Byerly’s, it would be nearly double for similar goods.
The St. Louis Park location is already convenient for me but I hope they just keep adding locations in MN. Selfishly, I’d like to see one downtown Mpls so I could shop there on my lunch hour;)
For cheese and olives I go to lunds/byerlys/kowalskies cause you can taste them first, thats worth the extra price in my opinion.
I have had those soy & flax chips, they aight. The frozen edamame is okay too, I just can’t justify fighting that parking lot for edamame, soy chips and canned masala sauce. If their produce didn’t suck it might work.
Right now its a secondary stop, maybe if I am going to target over there Ill stop in T-joes too.
We have a TJ’s in the MG (woodbury west) and we use it as a secondary shop. Their frozen pizza is killer, otherwise it’s their junk food (candy, nuts, etc) that’s really good. But yeah, if it were gone, I wouldn’t miss it. Frankly, I’d be happy if people stopped buying crappy wine from there, all excited about their $3 bottle of vino. It sucks, people.
Some of us just aren’t that discriminating.
I personally enjoy their selection of Viogniers at $5-$7/bottle.
I, for one, can eat a lot of almonds and wasabi peas. And I go through at least two containers of their balela a week.
I have nothing against a $5-$7 bottle of wine. $3 is just ridiculous.
7’s the key number here. Think about it. 7-Elevens. 7 doors. 7, man, that’s the number. 7 chipmunks twirlin’ on a branch, eatin’ lots of sunflowers on my uncle’s ranch. You know that old children’s tale from the sea. It’s like you’re dreamin’ about Gorgonzola cheese when it’s clearly Brie time, baby. Step into my office.
sorry I couldn’t resist a movie quote after jasons remarks.
Ryan is exactly right. $7 is the cutoff.
Having survived Two-Buck Chuck while living in Boston (and, yeah, I guess it’s Three-Buck Chuck now) I will say this: The word on the street was that you buy a bottle, taste it in the parking lot, and if it’s from one of the rare cases of DECENT Two-Buck Chuck, you then go back and buy a case. Or two. Apparently Charles Shaw quality control has never been that great, and the good stuff is easily a decent $7/8 bottle of wine. And the bad stuff is plonk. I dunno from personal experience, though. I’m a beer guy. Or a Scotch guy.
Perhaps those who are hating on the red Three Buck Chuck should try their white. Charles Shaw’s Chardonnay (the $3 one) just won first prize at the CA State Fair Wine Competition this past June.
Their Shiraz has won awards in recent years as well (in 2005, I believe). I’m primarily a red wine drinker myself and I quite like their Shiraz.
I am so sick of people complaining about the parking at Trader Joe’s. It’s not that bad. And if you can’t handle the stress, park on the street and walk the half block.
I go for the frozen tamales. They are pretty damn good for what they are.
There’s also a huge free parking garage a block down that’s never full.
I just am not going to fight past neo-hippie subaru driving bohemian bourgeoisie for almonds and cheap wine…period.
I can get my granola elsewhere.
How is that different from going to Lunds or Byerly’s or Kowalski’s or any co-op? Except at those other places you have the privelege of spending more for the experience.
ahh fer starters at Byerlys, I can pull my gas guzzling SUV up and some punter will load my damn groceries for a buck or two. I can’t be bothered with actually having to carry all my consumptions…that gets heavy. ;)
Kowalskis on lake streets parking blows…I skip that one. Lunds I walk to.