All the foodie people in Pittsburgh probably know, but Trader Joe’s is opening tomorrow in East Liberty. Some people I know were saying “meh” about Trader Joe’s, what with Whole Foods just down the street. I, for one, am excited because finally there will be a place in town to get fancier foods without all that attitude.
We got the flyer today at home, even way out here in the ‘burbs. I figure the place will be mobbed much like the Whole Foods was when it opened. Pittsburgh has no lack of pent up demand for this sort of thing.
I look forward to the rice crackers laced with crack, the frozen chocolate cake, and the mustard. Most of all though, I look forward to shopping for food that is a bit cheaper and has not wrapped itself in a political and moral agenda. This is not to say that I am annoyed that Whole Foods exists in Pittsburgh. I love the place and happily put up with its foibles in order to obtain the excellent products that they bring to us from all over.
But, the place does get tiring. Trader Joe’s will be a nice break. I’ll be happy to be able to walk through a store and not have to ponder the lack of any real hot dogs, the piles of bacon made out of poultry, that whole meat case filled with 50 flavors of sausage, all tasteless, and the huge freezer cases full of “Tofurkey” and other crimes against humanity. The frozen chocolate lava cake will just be icing on, well, the cake.
Now, if only we could get the liquor laws out of the Eighteenth Century, we would not be deprived of the Two Buck Chuck.
The place opens at 9am tomorrow. You better get there early if you want to get in.
Oliver is looking forward to the return of turkey meatballs to his dinner menu.
Trader Joe’s was my dad’s favorite store for a long time, visiting at least weekly, until Sprouts (http://www.sprouts.com/) opened across the street. Now it’s like he is torn, visiting Sprouts regularly, but going to Trader Joe’s when he forgets something.
Myself, I have yet to visit Sprouts, but do enjoy the Trader Joe’s increased selection of alternative milks, teas, alternatives to peanut butter, jellies (particularly fond of their cherry), and whatever unusual snacks I stumble across while there.
The big question is this: will they be selling lobster or Icelandic whale meat? Baiting minds want to know.
Being a Whole Foods employee Half of me will admit that yes they do get tiring. The other half of me is defensive and wants to protect the good name of a place that despite some weak areas of hypocricy, does genuinely do some good things for the health concious consumer, the foodie, the environment and local community. My particular store is not mired in self congradulations or snotty moral attitude, but many are. Perhaps the P-burgh store is one of them. Their supposed happy smooshy work environment and satisfied employees is their biggest lie in my opinion, but I digress. The only minor problem I have with Trader Joes VS WF is that everything is packaged and there is no bulk available or un packaged produce or meat. I do shop there for cleaning stuff and toiletries that they whip Ho FOO’s ass on price wise.
Sadly, about as likely as free range, grass fed porcine aviation.
Finally, I’ll say that if P burgh could lose it’s pathetic liquor laws you could pass on Two Buck Chuck entirely and come to *my* wine shop that I would then hapily open and offer oh so many wonderous things.
I don’t think the Pittsburgh store is particularly snotty. I was just being mean.
Small retraction: I was in the store today and didn’t see any real hot dogs. I guess I have false memories of seeing them in Cleveland.