We made our way out to the new Trader Joe’s in Green Hills Friday morning. The parking lot was running over into the Walgreen’s parking lot next door and police were directing traffic. Someone had so conveniently decided to setup shop in an RV in the lot and had in the process taken up 8-10 parking spaces and made it harder for everyone to get around the lot. Once inside I realized this was probably the smallest Trader Joe’s I had been in. We picked up a few of our regular items: pita, chips and chocolate covered espresso beans, which I could not find and had to ask someone to help only to find out they didn’t know where they were either. Of course, there’s no wine section but, while small, the beer section is available. I’ll pick up a new Hefewiessen on my next trip. I can only guess they don’t have all of their items stocked yet as many things seemed to be missing that I usually find.
For those of you who don’t get into making your own hummus Trader Joe’s has a good selection at good prices, and all vegan unlike some varieties that contain cream. The chipotle and the horseradish are my favorites. My wife thinks their cocoa is some of the best available but has gone up in price so it isn’t quite the deal it once was. The raw almonds you’ll find at Trader Joe’s are also unblanched unlike other raw almonds you find now.
Since Trader Joe’s is only taking up half of the space of the old Wild Oats, the lack of wine being sold and the recent closing of yn at The Hill Center, I can only guess someone will be looking into opening a wine store in the other half that is now for lease.
Oh, I can’t wait to go! My boyfriend used to live in Nashville but has relocated to stupid Clarksville for his job…however, I’m driving up from Memphis to see him in a couple weeks…and I believe we’re gonna spend a night in Nashville….Trader Joe’s is on my must-do list.
Maybe I’ll see you there! On a trip this evening the store was much less crowded but many items were sold out. I am sure the weekend crowds peeled the shelves clean. This is going to be dangerous for us as TJ’s is a plethora of junk food! YUM!
I did find some nice things at Trader Joes. I feel like I built up the experience in my head a little too much because I was slightly let down. I will probably stroll through the Trader Joes isles to look for neat things I may find but I’ll probably stick to Whole Foods. Their prices seemed better on most vegan items I like to get!
Overall I find TJ’s to be better , especially on prices. They don’t have everything you need on a typical grocery run but they aren’t meant to, they’re more a specialty store. You’re going to have to tell me the vegan items you find cheaper at Whole Foods over Trader Joe’s as I can’t think of a single item!
If there’s one thing I miss about living in Chicago, it is Trader Joe’s. There’s not any in Florida yet. I noticed you mentioned that there was no wine section at yours, I find that odd because in Chicago the wine section took up half of the store. 🙂 And it was a pretty small store as well.
Tennessee State Law does not allow wine sales in grocery stores. This is a backward state. Although there is a bill in the state legislature right now to change that there is a lot of opposition to it including the Liquor Store Owner’s Association and the Southern Baptist Association (go figure!). Hopefully it will pass and Two-Buck Chuck will line the shelves of Trader Joe’s here.
Thanks for visiting!