Eat at Joe's?

In the last two days I have received a barrage of e-mails--at least 30, if I counted correctly--from local folks urging Metrofoodie to blog about why we need a Trader Joe's in the Capital Region. I was curious about the sudden flurry, and I assumed it had to be some sort of a planned campaign, so I did a little digging, and sure enough, it was organized by someone named Bruce Roter, who appears to be the driving force behind a group called We Want Trader Joe's in the Capital District (wwtg.org).

If you're not familiar with Trader Joe's, it's a food store chain that sells natural and somewhat upscale products at very reasonable prices in a comfy, neighborhood-store setting. For many people who stumble into a TJ's for the first time (many of the 322 locations are in California, but you can find them in places like Larchmont, N.Y., Fairfield, Conn., and Brookline, Mass.; the closest one, in Hadley, Mass., is about an hour and 45 minutes from Albany), it's love at first sight. People come home gushing about all the high-quality groceries they bought and how little they spent. As founder Joe Coulombe puts it, "Trader Joe's was designed by me in the 1960s and 70s to serve people who are overeducated and underpaid."

You should also know this: Coulombe sold TJ's in 1979 to German billionnaire Theo Albrecht, whose family also owns the discount food-store chain Aldi, which is a decidely less upscale, no-frills operation aimed at lower-income and less food-snobby populations.

So . . . And I say this as someone who has shopped several times at Trader Joe's and loved it: Do we need another big-box retailer to come into our area, grab a slice of the natural-foods pie, and ship the surplus profits out of our region (in this case, out of our country)?

With the local, sustainable foods movement (and the broader local, sustainable-economies movement) really picking up momentum, even a seemingly benign chain like Trader Joe's may be past its time. I will paraphrase a suggestion I was offered on this subject by someone involved in those movements locally: To all of the people who put their energy into the cause of bringing Trader Joe's to the Capital Region, have you considered putting even half of that energy into finding out more about, and partaking of, the local and natural food options we have here? Have you considered joining a co-op? Shopping at or volunteering at a farmer's market? Joining a CSA?

Landing a TJ's (or a Whole Foods) in this market might seem a sign of progress to some, but there may be drawbacks to the local economy, not to mention the health of local growers, co-ops, etc.

But I'd like this to be a starting point for discussion. I would really love to hear comments, especially from the supporters of the movement to bring a Trader Joe's here.

--Stephen Leon

Comments

[Pat Meyers]

We are in desperate need of Trader Joe's in the Capital Region. I moved from Westchster NY several years ago, and this is where I did 90% of my shopping. There is nothing even closely resembling Trader Joe's in our area. Being that the Capital Region is growing, it defintely would be a worthwhile venture for the company.

[C. Allard]

Oh my gosh..>I would LOVE a trader joes in Capital Region...I know several others that feel the same way! I use to live on Long Island and would travel 45 min to get to the one down there..and when I visit my mom in NJ...I go to one near her.... What a blessing having one close by would be..and I could definitely go more often. Their selections are amazing...I would go there over my regular food store shopping...!! Please come to the Capital District!!!

[Chris Witkowski]

I have shopped at local farmer's markets (in fact the Greenmarket in Schenectady is a favorite destination of mine) and the local co-ops and I have to say, they just don't compare to the variety and price range that can be found at Trader Joe's. Yes, it's nice to support the local farmers, but $14 a pound for arugula is too steep for my taste. And the Albany Co-op has prices that just about made my eyes pop out of my head! It's the variety of food even more than the reasonable prices that make me long for a Trader Joe's in our area. Every time I visit my sister in Salem, Ma., I make sure to stop at the Peabody store to fill up on my favorite foods.

[GMO]

I agree with some of the points you made re: local growers but I think TJs offers more than just organic/natural food options that a local market couldn't supply. They have buyers that seek out products from all over the world and there is a a great selection of items available there that you'd have to travel around the world to find. The variety of sauces, frozen veggies, marinades, cheeses, etc are just far better and more diverse than anything you'd find in Hannaford or Price Chopper. I am continually frustrated by the lack of food options available in most of the stores in this area.

[KB]

Many of TJ's items are imports - how much competes with the local economy? We don't produce Olive Oil, having a fishing industry, etc. I would say let the market decide if there is room for a better store that sells more quality and less junk.

The local movement is great but don't forget there is always 6 months without produce.

[JAH]

Since we cannot have a Wegman's, Trader Joes is the next best thing. It makes grocery shopping a pleasure at a reasonable cost (unlike it's competitor Whole Paycheck). Upstate NY needs a store like this to encourage people to try different healthier foods and expand our palates. Trader Joe's offers samples of many their products every day of the week.
The Capital District is filled with lots of well-educated, diverse citizens. We deserve better than Price-Chopper and Hannaford. It's just that simple.

[Donald Ingram]

Dear Mr. Leon,

Thank you for your thoughtful article regarding efforts to attract a Trader Joe's to the Capital District.

I should like to point out that Trader Joe's is hardly a "big box" store. It is also not comparable to Whole Foods, in that TJ's has low prices while Whole Foods is definitely "upscale" in its pricing.

I am a member of a local co-op. In the past few days I've been to two farmers' markets where produce can be very expensive. Yesterday I saw a single small zucchini priced at $3.00. By the way, Trader Joe's is committed to selling locally grown food.

We need more competition for the food dollar in our area. We have only two major chains. We would also benefit from having Rochester-based Wegmans open stores in Eastern New York. They currently have expanded into Southern Virginia.

I understand that Price Chopper and Wegmans formerly did not go into one another's territories. However, Price Chopper continues to move West, but Wegmans hasn't moved East.

If Hadley, Massachusetts can support a Trader Joe's, so should we be able to in the Capital District.

Sincerely,

Don Ingram

[CAG]

We regularly travel to the Trader Joe's in Danbury, CT to shop. We shop at Honest Weight on occasion but find the prices much higher than at TJ's. We also belong to the Regional Food Bank's CSA and shop at local farmers' markets but those are limited to the growing season of this area -- TJ's is a year round option.
Our local grocers may offer similar products but they don't come close to TJ's lower prices.

[JJ]

I agree about the worry of a big box store, but Hannaford is not from around here and Price Chopper is expensive and the food is consistently lower quality. The only store that competes with quality is the Rochester based Wegmans, but the price is less affordable. TJ's will not compete so much with the local grocers like Honest Weight so much as it will compete with Hannaford (international chain) and Price Chopper. Price Chopper will continue its mainstream following so I doubt there would be a huge loss of revenue for them. Honest Weight and the other natural food stores will still have their place. TJs does not supply fresh groceries like the Coop. Personally, I would not go to Hannaford (refuse to go to Price Chopper b/c of price and quality) and go to TJs and Honest Weight more often because I would save money on processed foods and buy more fresh foods at the Honest Weight Coop.

[Bruce Roter]

Dear Mr. Leon,

Thank you for your thoughtful blog article on Trader Joe's and on our campaign to bring this store to the Capital District. I am pleased to respond to your article.

There are at this time, over 3,000 of us who are part of this campaign (over 1,000 on our Facebook sites alone). Keeping the discussion narrowly focused for the moment, I would say that for many in our group, you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned Trader Joe's' "natural and somewhat upscale products at very reasonable prices in a comfy, neighborhood-store setting" and "People come home gushing about all the high-quality groceries they bought and how little they spent." This seems to be the general experience of those who shop at Trader Joe's and a big reason why we want one here (especially given today's economy). I can also tell you that I have received emails from several for whom Trader Joe's isn't just a pleasure but also a necessity as they have certain medical conditions and dietary restrictions and can find the foods they need at Trader Joe's.

I would like to dispel a misconception that was reflected in your article. Trader Joe's can hardly be equated to a "big-box" store, since it usually takes up about half the size of an average Price Chopper. In fact, Trader Joe's has been widely praised for its corporate philosophy of creating a rather small footprint. That being said, for a "small" store, Trader Joe's packs a tremendous economic wallop! There is no doubt that a Trader Joe's here can be a catalyst for continued economic development as people within a hundred mile radius will shop at Trader Joe's (I have received emails from folks as far away as Syracuse who say they would shop in Albany if we had a Trader Joe's!).

Let me address a main concern in your article: support Trader Joe's or support local co-ops and CSAs. I consider the "either/or" scenario to be a false choice. I say, we can and should have both! I believe that these choices are complementary and that CSAs (I have belonged to one) and food co-ops can flourish side by side with Trader Joe's (this was my own shopping experience when I lived in Portland, OR). What Trader Joe's does is create educated consumers, and those consumers are going to make a beeline with their new found passion for good food to our local farmers and our local coops that offer fine products. I want everyone to benefit, and again, we deserve all options!

I also believe that at the heart of our drive for a Trader Joe's, the word "options" again must be mentioned. I have no doubt that many in our community feel "stuck" with their present options (or lack thereof). We have worked hard in the Capital District to unstick ourselves--to become the dynamic, progressive community we now are. In this regard, Trader Joe's represents the "coming of age" of our new Capital District, a Capital District that can look both within and outside its borders to create the best community we can be.

Lastly, you use the term "food-snobby" in your article. I wouldn't describe Trader Joe's shoppers as "food snobby," but rather "food savvy." And how did we become "food savvy?" By shopping at Trader Joe's! So, it's too late, the genie is out of the bottle. We've tasted better! This is probably too broad an issue to be explored here, but hasn't there been a "dumbing-down" of the American palette? In this regard, Trader Joe's does NOT talk down to our taste buds. Trader Joe's simply offers excellent, delicious, health-conscious, exciting foods at prices we ALL can afford -- what a democratic concept (and not at all elitist!). So, I say to all in the Capital District, it's time to wake up and taste the Trader Joe's Columbia Supremo Coffee (and help yourself to a generous serving of their chocolate ganache cake!).

Sincerely,

Bruce Roter, President
We Want Trader Joe's in the Capital District
www.wwtj.org

[Janine]

I agree with many of the other people who posted comments. I shop at the Farmer's Market, the Honest Weight Food Coop and Hannaford. I would not stop shopping at the local food places. I would stop shopping at Hannaford. I never shop at Price Chopper because the food is lower quality and expensive.

I think the Capital District can support a Trader Joe's and it would not hurt the business of our local grocers. However, it would expand our healthier and international food options.

If legislation is passed to allow grocery stores to sell wine and I bet Trader Joe's will be more interested in expanding in NY State. I have heard the inability to do so is a disincentive for Trader Joe's. It is being considered in the NY legislature right now!

[Laura]

I think the assumption that most of those calling for a TJ's here have not spent "half the energy" into finding out about local food options is rather condescending and uninformed.

I know several families in my neighborhood who are CSA and food coop members who would also love a TJ's. I love the cheese selection at the coop here, but cannot afford to shop there on any regular basis. I have looked into work slot options there, but there wasn't anything that I could do with two kids under three at home full time, beside the fact that the largest discount that honest weight offers it's members is 26% percent below their mark up--which is based not on the wholesale cost of the item (like at my old coop in park slope) but based on what the local market will bear. I just don't think that is a fair way to charge members.

I have researched CSA's enough to know that for now, when money is very tight for our one income family of 5, shopping at local farmer's markets makes more sense for our wallet than a CSA b/c we can choose what we will actually eat each week (and with an infant about to start solids and a picky toddler, we cannot afford to put our entire fresh veggie and fruit budget into what might be mostly bushels of kale and turnips every week).

From what I have seen when I visited Tj's in other areas, they do try to carry local foods. According to the TJ's website:

"Why do the prices and selection vary from state to state?
Trader Joe's has stores in many states and regions and we try to source goods locally where we can. Because of this, we have a selection of fresh deli products, breads, dairy and juices that will vary in most states."

Tj's makes a lot of healthy, fair trade, organic, sustainably grown, and local food affordable to people on a budget who cannnot afford honest weight prices and who cannot make the committment to work several hours/week for deep discount.

I think it is wonderful that there are a lot of people in the area who have the time and or the money to make the coop and a CSA their main source of food. A lot of us cannot. We are doing what we can, though. We pick and choose what we can do. We get meadowbrook milk delivered, even though we can get cheaper organic milk at hannaford. we hit farmer's markets at every opportunity. We support local merchants when getting gifts for friends and family.

Also, we have so many empty storefronts in this city, it would be wonderful to have a clean affordable store that offered healthy food to the masses.

I welcome a serious discussion about whether or not trader joes would really hurt the local economy and hurt all of us locals. Thanks for starting the discussing again. I hope I can learn something from it. Too often I just hear "it would hurt Honest Weight" or "Forget Trader Joe's, join a CSA"--those things just aren't very good arguments. I'd love to hear a well-thought out, factually accurate reason to question my support of bringing this store to the Cap Region. Thanks.

[Marilyn DeSimony]

Trader Joe offers the quality and variety at prices I can afford. I have belonged to a food cooperative in the past. I frequent local farmer's markets, but cannot afford the products sold there. I am in my 70's and the days of a large garden are in the past. I would greatly appreciate the foods offered by Trader Joe's without waiting for my daughter to visit and bring my rather long list of products from the store near her. They also offer a list of their gluten free products I need with prices much lower than I can buy locally.

[Julia Walter]

Mr Leon,

I live in faraway Cobleskill, where I have many opportunities to shop at excellent farmer's markets and farm stands in the summer. The rest of the year I have Price Chopper. Honest Weight isn't an option for my family. But I love visiting my sister in Culver City, CA and shopping with her at Trader Joe's. For a tiny store, the choices are eye-popping!
Our palates, our homes, our restaurants *need* this shot in the arm. And the 2 buck chuck would be nice, too.

[J. Waldman]

Hello-
I read your article in Metroland and am surprised at the conclusions that you have drawn.
There is no comparison between what we have available in the Capital District and Trader Joe's. The co-ops and farmer's markets are all good and have their place. I belonged to, and volunteered at a local co-op, but none is equal to TJ.
Trader Joe's is not a "Big Box" operation. It has a small, friendly feel and the workers are more that helpful and anxious to please.
The major difference is that they carry a huge variety of products that are not available in the Capital District---lots of natural foods, vegetarian choices, new sauces, frozen entrees----there is no end to what I could list here. Not only are many of the items unique, but their prices are reasonable, sometimes amazingly inexpensive!
My family and I go to MA several times a year to stock up on their wonderful products. How much better to have our own store here in the Capital District!
I know a TJ's here would be a big draw and bring many shoppers into this area, which would be a boon to many local merchants and shopping malls.
There is no negative argument to this issue from anyone that I have met and spoken with---yours is the first!!

[Kristina Dallas]

Mr Leon,

I would have to agree with Bruce Roter that this is not an "either-or" situation. I am a faithful member of a CSA (and a drop-off point for 37 other members), shop at the co-op when I can justify the 30 mile drive and buy what I can at Four Season's in Saratoga. TJ's would not be taking my business from any of these locally-based businesses as it has its own "niche", so to speak. Gourmet mustards,affordable pistachios and natural, well-prepared quick frozen meals fit well with every effort I make to eat local foods I prepare myself, but simply cannot 100% of the time (or because I can't afford some of the ingredients I like to cook with... yes I fall into the cadillac-taste-on-a-buick-budget category). When living in California, I bought my staples at TJ's and everything else at the local farmers' market. We really can have the best of both worlds. Hannaford and Price Chopper are appalling food options for those of us accustomed to higher quality food offered at an affordable price.

Kristina Dallas, Saratoga Springs

[Jackie D]

I also try to buy local and eagerly await the Farmers'Markets openings each year, but how much kale can you eat ? TJ's is not a big box type of store. We were just in Williamsburg,VA and finally found (not on the GPS map) the TJ's we were looking for so we could stock up on all of their specialties. It was 8:50 on Sunday night and we raced in and they said to relax, they'd stay open as long as we needed.
Come on, would Price Chopper do that ???
Also, even if it IS owned by the same corporation as ALDI, they are no way alike !! Unless you load up a car with your pals, it doesn't pay to go to Hadley or Scarsdale. AND, you need to leave room for the tons of TJ'S goodies !! Their "stuff" is always so innovative, fun and fresh, you can't help but love the place !! YES -- We do need Trade Joe's in the Capital District.

[Karen]

Mr Leon,
Thank you for presenting your views on the Trader Joe's campaign here in the Capital District. The numbers of 3,000+ members is impressive and we come from all walks of life.
What makes our area so attractive is the people. We are fortunate to have a choice, fought for by so many before us. I shop now at Price Chopper, Hannaford, Super Walmart, farmer's markets and watch prices and budget carefully. Yes, I shop the specials and use coupons to stretch the dollar. I will continue to support the local stores. I welcome any effort to bring Trader Joe's here. We deserve a Trader Joe's in the Capital District!!
Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinion.

[Lisa]

Thanks for a great question. I would love to see a TJ come to the region, and I am someone who shops weekly at the Troy Farmer's Market. I'm also a member of the new Pioneer Food Co-op planned for Troy. I don't see these as competing against each other but supplementing each other. TJ's makes it reasonable for me to eat more organic foods on a social worker's salary. I really see that they work together!

[Jane persbacker]

I live in Mesa, Arizona and Trader Joe's is my favorite store. Not only is the food superb but you can find things you can't imagine finding other places except maybe a Gourmet' Restaurant. It's a joy to go in there. The help is soooo friendly and almost like family. They are
also very helpful and accommodating. They hand out great samples and receipes too. Every city needs at least one Trader Joe's......and
that's for sure!!!!
P.S. and I'm a senior citizen and on a tight budget, too!!!!!!

[Steve]

Trader Joe’s should be brought to the capitol district because we live in Syracuse and have to travel a great deal farther (Framingham region visiting family) in order to stock up at TJ’s. If there was a Trader Joe’s in Albany we could do day trips (and more often) to shop and spend more time in the capitol district shopping and sight-seeing. I know of others who live in central New York who feel the same way about traveling to Albany to shop at Trader Joe’s as well.

[Frank Bader]

Hi Stephen,
My wife, Nancy, and I spend almost 6 months in Baltimore, MD and over 6 months in Craryville, NY (Copake Lake, about 60 miles south of Albany). In Baltimore, we shop weekly at Whole Foods and Monthly (as well as before our annual migration to Copake Lake) at Trader Joe's. There are no equivalent grocery store providers within 2 hours drive of Copake Lake. We support the need for a Trader Joe's in Albany!
Frank Bader

[Ann]

There are a lot of reasons why we need a Trader Joe’s up here – one of them being that Don Ingram and I (and probably others) are regularly driving to DANBURY to get the food we want at a reasonable price. I’m not really a ‘food snob.’ I’m just a transplant who’d like to have the same choice as other parts of the country, including lower NY State, eastern Mass, & Connecticut.
When I realized that I was moving to this area, one of the first things I checked out was whether the stores where I regularly shopped downstate were represented here. A number are not. I had 3 TJ’s within 20-45 mins. of my former home, or other family members’ homes. I also shopped at the local greenmarkets in Westchester. In the past, in another city, I belonged to a food co-op. So I tried those options up here. The local greenmarket and (HW) organic co-op are limited – and expensive – and don’t stock much of what I want besides produce. I wound up spending a fortune, and looked at my bags in wonder when I returned home from those places.

TJ's is not a "big-box store," as we know. It's not like we're talking Whole Foods here! They’re relatively small grocery-store style markets, but cheap. TJ's has probably eaten into the profits of the unsatisfactory, real big-box supermarkets in every area, or at best is a supplement to their offerings. They have community notice boards, & are a real part of their communities. I preferred TJ's to many of the local supermarkets downstate, but I used them to buy staples & other items that TJ’s didn’t have.
I'd just like to be able to choose a reasonably-priced market that has good food, without using an inordinate amount of gas & time.

[Sandy]

When visiting family in CT we frequent a Trader Joe's near Norwalk and love the products and the prices! With a 3 hour drive home I unfortunately can't enjoy the perishables often. The prices and variety for interesting sauces, oils, dried fruits and nuts have us longing to have a TJ's near by!! It is nothing like a "big box" store! That myth needs to be dispelled. Another thing is that they must be a good company to work for because the people that work there always seem happy and they are so friendly. We need a Trader Joe's in the Capital District PLEASE!!!!

[FB Strauss]

My daughter and her family live in Ridgewood, NJ, and between her visits here and our visits there, we shop the TJ's on Rte 17 several times a month. We also try to buy locally as much as possible, but you can't always go to a Farmer's market when you need something. The comments about "innovative" "upscale" and "affordable" pretty much describe the TJ's shopping experience. TJ's would add just a little spice to the blandness available here in large quantities. Price Chopper and Hannaford certainly have their place here, but there sure is room for a Trader Joe's.