Trader Joe’s

Love shopping at Trader Joe’s i just wish they would make some of their own products without sugar – examples tonic water and many processed meats.
Happy to have a great volume of veggies and meals that are pre made for those nights when we don’t have time to cook.
Also glad to have vegan and gluten free options for our friends and lodging guests that require it.
Bread flour and salads that used to have some salami vs all chicken is high on my wish list. I miss the Italian chopped salad very much.

Trader Joe’s is know for making it as inconvenient as possible for their customers to get into and out of their store. I go back 30 years with these guys and from Pasadena, to Granada Hills, to White Oak to that God-​awful experiment of a store in Topanga Plaza, the one and probably only thing that has not changed is the terrible parking situation. At this store, you have an average age demographic of about 70+. Yesterday I was in this location (it’s 3 days before Christmas), and a grouchy senior guy couldn’t wait 20 seconds for me to register what he was saying («excuse me»?), and had to grab the front of my cart and yank it out of his way. Then, I decided that since it is, in fact 3 days before I was going to serve it, I might wait until later to buy the salad I was planning to serve. So I put the bag of butter lettuce back. I told the lovely young lady stocking the salad bags that I would wait until Friday to buy it. I wasn’t really talking to her, just kind of making small talk during an awkward moment. She was almost confrontational when she spat back, «Friday we are closed. It’s Christmas Day! We are closed on Christmas Day!» Um, okay, I will come back on Thursday. Holy crap. Talk about trying to make someone feel unwelcome and a little stupid. Ah, the joy of Christmas. One star for the most dangerous parking lot in the county, rude employees and douchebag fellow shoppers. One star because they carry hard liquor.

I like this trader. They have a pretty good selection of vegan and organic items but it would be nice to see that selection expand. You can find just about anything… but you can’t get everything here. Prices are good. I have yet to find chips worth buying though.

My go-​to place for reasonably priced organic foods!

TJ’s has gone DOWNHILL… kind of like me.
Even though there are some goodies that I still get here, which are relative bargains, they are overwhelmed by more & more pseudo-​crap that crowds the shelves.
Single remaining Italian Prosciutto, but not all the crappy subs next to it.
The distribution of juices & sweet teas have turned to vastly sugared sweeted over sugary crap… like sweeted ice-​tea (but good to make home-​brewed Kobuchka). The are few 100% juices left (Cherry, Blueberry, Unfiltered Apple) that
are bottled.
The fresh OJ is now more than fresh Tangerine juice… go figure.
The chips, cereal, cookies, baked goods & more are high sugar.
Their dairy is still OK & they do have a decent Greek Yogurt.
Their veggies & fruits are always too expensive & not local. The local Farmer’s Market have fresher stuff at lower prices.
The bargains that I go for are:
Wild Canned Red Salmon
Wild Salmon Lox style
Sardines & other seafood packed in H2O
WInes– in particular German White — Riesling Section– Aulese, Spatlese, Swartz Cat, LIebfrowmilch (Mother’s milk at $ 3.99!).
Beers –imports– Pilsner Urquel, Spaten, etc…
Maple Syrup — Grade B Jug
High Protein Tofu (excellent) & Tempeh
Cheeses — Goat, Cambert, & anything smelly.
Instant Miso Soup
Irish Stone cut Oatmeal — add dried fruit, nuts, ext…
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Overprice or crap that I avoid, or rather get in bulk at Kostko, or elsewhere:
1) Most veges & fruit. ($$$$)
2) Vinegar & oils (now small & $$$$)
3) Most «fresh» fish, meats, & chicken. (not the freshest)
4) Sugary cereals
5) Dips (most fatty & $$$)
6) Pre-​paced cold cuts (WF has better… but for more $$$$)
7) Cookies & Baked Sweets (low quality, tons of additives & sugar)
8) Chips & such (overpriced for small bags)
9) Teas are a rip off
10) Bottled water, except for TJ Sparkling which is a nice low cal treat.
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If you have shopped at TJ’s for decades, like I have, you have seen everything
shrink & go up in price.
Gone are the days of big jugs of Balsamic Vinegar & Olive Oil.
Kostko is far better for some bulk staples.

Good food, but management and knowledge of restaurant etiquette severely lacking. $ 6.50 for an espresso macchiato is unreasonable.

TJ’s rocks. There’s a Trader Joe’s culture, for sure, and I enjoy shopping there with the always and unfailingly friendly and helpful staff.
No, they don’ have everything, no store does. But the staff is all trained to understand the products they do carry.
My only issue is that I typically cook for one person, so with fresh vegetables and meats pre-​weighed and wrapped, I end up buying more than I want. Compensating factor is the great price on organic fruits and vegetables, and I also know the food is probably um, cleaner? (Less handling by the public)

Love this store it’s clean will stocked and friendly!!! Lots of good food ready to eat I buy fish there always good prices are really good healthy chooses to !!

Trader Joe’s saved me! I went to the big box store next door first, in desperate need of aloe vera gel for a bad sunburn. After almost 15 minutes of searching and no one around to ask if they had it, I left and headed to Trader Joe’s. Right when I walked in the door I could see the soothing aloe in the distance and quickly purchased it along with some other food items. A friendly employee asked me if I needed help finding anything, and although I didn’t, it was nice compared to my bad experience only minutes before in the other store. The cashier who rang me up was very nice and humorous. Thanks for the friendly service, and having exactly what I needed to help my sunburn feel better.

I love Trader Joe’s. And since we are back in CA, we can get wine there again. This location is conveniently located between work and home. Even on a Saturday morning it was not very busy. Great items and good prices.

I get about half my groceries at Trader Joe’s every month, and this is a great location! The employees have always been so helpful, friendly, and talkative. I especially like their selection of cheese, yogurt, bread, and grocery items (particularly cereal, snacks, and canned food). The prices are generally very good for what I buy. I sometimes find good produce, but it seems to stay fresher longer if I buy it from the grocery store.

Love Trader Joes so much!

I’m a huge fan of Trader Joe in general. The Arroyo Grande location is located for ease and convenience of all the 5 cities as it is next to the freeway. The one thing that sets this store apart from many of the TJs I have gone to is the service shown by the employees. They really seem to enjoy working there.

I use them for nearly all my shopping lately. They have healthy options and it makes it easy to get out of there without a lot of junk. Their name brands are great. The prices are really great and their employees are very friendly. I like the whole feel of this store it is small but I prefer less choices as long as my options are healthy and taste good. I am very happy living close to this store. I’m not sure what I’ll do if I ever live too far from one.

Very nice spacious TJ. Staff is very nice.
SHHH don’t tell the Produce looked good Ya know often the grocery chains get organic in that looks horrid!
Great easy access location but hey don’t tell to many people it was a great shopping experience and I’d hate to see it ruined by rude, obnoxious crowds.
Enjoyed the experience tonight –forgot how much I missed TJ.

Love TJ’s! Great food at great prices! The store in AG has a very friendly staff and a great location!