Trader Joes in Minneapolis is open!

[DMurray]

I've been watching the store for awhile now but wasn't sure when it was supposed to actually open. There was a little "blurb" on the local new last night that the store was open. I'm so excited! We are supposed to go out of town for a long weekend, but I may be able to get down there before we go (DH has been sick so he might not be able to get the days off as planned). It's in St Louis Park on Excelsior-not too far from Whole Foods and Penzey's. Could be a "food day"! I work very close to the new store, but I work nights so I have to make a special trip in when the stores are actually open-I've always wished Whole Foods opened just a little earlier so I could go there right after work. . .

[MnSnow]

I'm very excited that it's open and can't wait to get there! I drove by it on Saturday and saw at least one other person scoping it out. I visited a TJ's when in the San Francisco area last summer and there were so many interesting looking things to try that didn't make sense to transport back to MN. I figured I'd just have to wait until it was here.

Jody

[Varaile]

Sigh. Why can't they put these things up in Roseville? ;) :rolleyes: It would be so much closer for me. :D

I shop at the Penzey's on Grand Ave in St. Paul and occasionally the Seward Neighborhood Co-op.

[mrswaz]

So is it a trek from Roseville? My DB and SIL live right near Roseville, and we're going for a visit next weekend. I would love to stop in at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods while we're there, but I don't want to inconvenience my brother by going way out of the way.

[MnSnow]

I couldn't wait any longer and stopped in at Trader Joes tonight. I think that they've been surprised by the pent-up demand for TJ's and there were a lot of empty shelves and spaces in the store at closing time. I still managed to fill two grocery bags of food. :D Their prices seem very good on many items. I'm looking forward to returning at a less hectic time.

I talked to one of the employees on the way out and asked him when they were going to be able to restock. He said that they bring two truckloads in each night and employees work all night to restock but the demand is greater than they can meet at the moment. I'd imagine they'll be very busy this weekend. So if you're interested in seeing what they have, I'd get there early. I think their hours are 9-9.

mrswaz, I don't think it would be more than 25-30 minutes by freeway from Roseville. It probably depends on how much you want to fight the crowds. It is a fun field trip.

[cindyn]

We went last Saturday night at 8pm to avoid the crowd. The parking lot was full but you could certainly move around in the store so the timing paid off from that perspective. But the shelves were very empty though! We still managed to buy 3 bags of groceries and 4 bottles of wine.

The trip wasn't a complete waste of time though. We were able to get some of our favorites. The cashier commented that we must have shopped at a Trader Joe's before because we bought some things that first time shoppers wouldn't likely buy. I didn't think to ask him what gave us away, maybe the Washabi Peas.

When I commented on the empty shelves to the cashier , he said that they had been caught off guard by the response to the store opening. Hopefully they will be able to adjust soon.