Andy Bowers offers An Insider’s Guide to Trader Joe’s — For curious New Yorkers — who are getting their first Trader Joe’s:
If a normal supermarket is like a mall — filled with familiar, consistent, and humdrum name brands — Trader Joe’s is more like a good bazaar, with its eclectic and erratic selection and frequent surprises, both good and bad. And like any bazaar, it’s much easier to navigate with a little experienced help. So, with curious New Yorkers in mind, I asked friends and colleagues in Los Angeles to send me their TJ’s tips and warnings.