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| - Favorite place to drop some bones on delicious and healthy food.
Pros:
Their selection of dried fruit and nuts is amazing. The only place to find honest to goodness dried fruit with no added sugar or color. Make sure to check the package to ensure you're getting the good stuff...They have a few items that have added sugar (e.g. dried cranberries).
Oh my holy baby CHEESES! Their cheese selection is infinitely cheaper than Harris Teeter. Never buy cheese from the Teeter again! You'll pay way less for the same, if not better quality options at Trader Joe's. Every time.
The bathrooms are clean and in the back of the store. When accompanied by children who have the "insta-pee" button, it's a safe haven.
Employees are wonderful. Sometimes a little over-interactive, if you know what I mean. But it's in their job description to make small talk, and boy do they ever make small talk. They are also generally kind and helpful if you need them.
The frozen section is in great shape. Any meal you could imagine, they have it...and the Frequent Flyer publication is chock-full of exciting ideas that require only one or two ingredients. Definitely pick up a package of the potstickers or orange chicken next time you're in there.
Cons:
Produce can be a bit iffy. Pineapples are generally $2 less than other grocery stores, and you can round up a good one after inspection. Sometimes I wonder if stuff hasn't been sitting there a bit long. Maybe this store doesn't do the volume of produce that would allow for such frequent movement. No idea. Some of the packaged produce is in better shape. I'm a big fan of their spinach, carrots, pea shoots, etc. Can't go wrong there.
Parking is a NIGHTMARE. Anyone will tell you this. I recommend "the parking in the back" to anyone who will listen. It's less hellacious and more likely to put you in good spirits for a Trader Joe's visit. Sometimes I can park near Starbucks or Yoforia and walk over, since there's usually a spot available, but it is a bit of a walk for those of you non-olympic speedwalkers out there.
All in all, I'd rather shop at TJ's than other "health-food stores" out there. Trader Joe's makes it way easier to find happy vegetarian options that aren't laden with offensive additives, sugar or soy.
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