Trader Joe's in Louisville

Nice addition to the city--I'll certainly stop off from time to time. However, we've been invited to the party a generation late. They have so many TJ's in California that you have to consult a pdf file per region to locate them. Heck, there are four in the St. Louis area and at least one in any other city of significance in the region. Let's face it folks, we were on their "Uhh....., now where to we go?" list. Lucky for us they saturated all the other viable markets before finally turning to us.

[Robin Garr]

Presented without comment, here's an interesting market analysis and corporate history of Trader Joe's.
http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company- ... story.html

A couple of interesting tidbits:

In 1979, Trader Joe's was purchased by German billionaires Karl and Theo Albrecht, who also owned the immensely successful ALDI discount stores in Europe.

By 2002, more than 160 stores in 15 states made up the Trader Joe's chain, with sales reaching $1.67 billion.

Principal Competitors:Albertson's; Arden Group; Cost Plus; GNC; A&P; Haggen; Hannaford Bros.; Hickory Farms; The Kroger Co.; NBTY; Raley's; Royal Ahold; Safeway; Stater Bros.; Stop & Shop; Whole Foods Market; Wild Oats Markets.

Principal Competitors:Albertson's; Arden Group; Cost Plus; GNC; A&P; Haggen; Hannaford Bros.; Hickory Farms; The Kroger Co.; NBTY; Raley's; Royal Ahold; Safeway; Stater Bros.; Stop & Shop; Whole Foods Market; Wild Oats Markets.

Isn't the above list kinda like saying that EVERYONE is a competitor of TJ's? But what the heck - how did Hickory Farms get on that list?! How is Hickory Farms still on anyone's RADAR for gosh sakes!

I probably should have moved that to a new thread. Hijack!

Nahhhhh, it ain't hijacked yet Dude...We haven't got around to Trader Joe's frozen pizza or what kind of craft beer they carry.

Principal Competitors:Albertson's; Arden Group; Cost Plus; GNC; A&P; Haggen; Hannaford Bros.; Hickory Farms; The Kroger Co.; NBTY; Raley's; Royal Ahold; Safeway; Stater Bros.; Stop & Shop; Whole Foods Market; Wild Oats Markets.

Isn't the above list kinda like saying that EVERYONE is a competitor of TJ's? But what the heck - how did Hickory Farms get on that list?! How is Hickory Farms still on anyone's RADAR for gosh sakes!

Of course that article must be very old because it has Wild Oats in it and they were bought out by Whole Foods quite a while ago.

I probably should have moved that to a new thread. Hijack!

Nahhhhh, it ain't hijacked yet Dude...We haven't got around to Trader Joe's frozen pizza or what kind of craft beer they carry.

I can't speak of particular craft brews carried, but will offer this nifty link th TJ's beer styles and food pairing chart. Just print it off so you will have a handy pocket reference while shopping.

http://www.traderjoes.com/guides/beer-styles.asp

Been in lot's of TJs. Coming Louisville? Big whoop-tee-doo - I can't recall anything in the place that could get me all fired up.

Been in lot's of TJs. Coming Louisville? Big whoop-tee-doo - I can't recall anything in the place that could get me all fired up.

Yes! Please tell everyone the same thing. Bless you, Mark. Like my wife, Diane, said "We want to get a good parking spot".

Nothing to see here, folks, show's over, please move along...

But we do live in a pseudo-capitalistic society (where the masses subsidize the losses of the rich), so we do have to accept that competition exists.

You lost me here, Nimbus. First, I really don't get the "psuedo" part of the first clause of the sentence, and them I'm really confused by "masses subsidize the losses of the rich." Don't the rich have gains, not losses?

Really the wrong thread, and perhaps the wrong forum, for a discussion on this, but it was a passing reference to how taxpayers (the masses) frequently bail out the reckless wealthy. Look at wall street and the de-regulating and the ridiculous housing bubble that got built up. Who pays the prices when the recklessness and gambling crumbles (as it always does eventually). The taxpayers of course.

It happens over and over again. By then, the profits have been pocketed, money hoarded and tucked away, and the businesses are too big to fail, so must be rescued for "our own good."

As for pseudo capitalism, we don't live in a capitalist society, there are far too many socialist elements for that to be true. It is some kind of hybrid. But when the capitalist elements fail, and the ":free market" (lightly regulated) fails, then the true socialism comes out, and the wealthy want all of us to share the losses and hard times. Socialism - handouts for the filthy rich. There are far too many recent examples. If you don't notice, you're not looking.

Hey it's a foodie group, so how about "Eat the Rich" to end this one....

As for the union question, I really haven't followed it. But if bosses are good, and treat workers fairly (and pay them well with good benefits, etc), then there isn't really a need to unionize is there?

Unions do a lot of good things, mostly adding bargaining power to workers who otherwise are often badly paid, or work under poor conditions. I'm a strong union supporter, but obviously not every individual business will have a need to be union.

Enough preaching. As others here have alluded to, TJ's will likely be packed. So the less of you that go the better for my elbow room in the aisles, and the shorter my waits in the lines.

Cheers,

Really the wrong thread, and perhaps the wrong forum, for a discussion on this, but it was a passing reference to how taxpayers (the masses) frequently bail out the reckless wealthy. Look at wall street and the de-regulating and the ridiculous housing bubble that got built up.

You're right - wrong thread, wrong board. Better off in a quiet corner.

But I can't help but just briefly challenge the housing bubble issue. Who benefited from the housing bubble? It surely wasn't folks buying million dollar homes. Look at the auctions in the listings - I'll bet they average well under $200,000. You didn't see "millionaires" taking mortgages with no money down and insufficient cash flow. I'm not saying the whole thing wasn't a debacle - it was. But nearly every sector in our country is responsible for that disaster, from Greenspan to the family who, sadly, never should have been given a mortgage because they had insufficient resources.

But I can't help but just briefly challenge the housing bubble issue. Who benefited from the housing bubble? It surely wasn't folks buying million dollar homes. Look at the auctions in the listings - I'll bet they average well under $200,000. You didn't see "millionaires" taking mortgages with no money down and insufficient cash flow. I'm not saying the whole thing wasn't a debacle - it was. But nearly every sector in our country is responsible for that disaster, from Greenspan to the family who, sadly, never should have been given a mortgage because they had insufficient resources.

Saying the families in sub-prime mortgages "benefited" from the housing bubble is like saying a cow "benefited" from being turned into the steak I ate last night. Greenspan still has millions of dollars and -- unbelievably -- a modicum of respect from the public at large. Aside from Bear Stearns and Lehman Bros. and those workers that were laid off, the investment bankers and sub-prime lenders still have their millions and are continuing to make profit even while large segments of the population are dealing with the worst economic climate in 80 years.

Trying to wrangle this critter back to the ranch...

I think TJs mostly shines with the quality and prices of their staple products. Olive oil, mustard, chocolate, specific produce, modest wine and beer selection, etc. They don't even pretend to be all things to all people. They have things that I buy every week, at high quality, and good prices. That's good enough for me.

They don't have anything that makes me want to arrange a road trip. But if they are in a city that I already have business in, then well..... as short side trip might well be called for.

I also join the chorus wishing they had picked a different location. I think Old Louisville near UofL would have been a much better fit for their concept.

Look, people..........It's a STORE. It's not a life or death choice. If you don't like it, don't go. If you think they are trying to squish the "little people", fine go shop at the little people stores. People like different places for different reasons.
Personally, I'm excited about it. I live in Elizabethtown. The most exciting grocery store in Etown? Aldi. I drive to Louisville on a regular basis to shop at Whole Foods and Lotsa Pasta to get things like good bread, different cheeses, and condiments that I can't get here. I go to buy seafood because our stores carry little variety.

This comment is not directed at anyone in particular, but what I do really love about this place how people get all wadded up about a grocery store.
'Winger