Gettin’ To Know TRADER JOE’S
If you’re not familiar with Trader Joe’s yet, you’re in for an experience!
The new store — a Charlotte “first” — will open at the Shops in Piper Glen (they’re at 6418 Rea Road) on Aug. 17. It’s a specialty food store with a “home-town” feel to it (think the old “Red-and-White” in Pineville) and will carry items like granolas, frozen foods, salsas and candies. The company’s known nationally for using small, specialty producers; over 80 percent of their products are exclusive to TJ’s. It also stresses nutrition by offering loads of items that are fat-free, kosher, and vegetarian — in other words, healthy!
Now, I’ve shopped at a TJ’s out west a few years ago, and, believe me, it’s a one-of-a-kind, easygoing experience. The food is wholesome and nutritious, and the prices don’t strangle the wallet! In the new Charlotte store, they’ll also be offering beer and wine, including California’s popular Charles Shaw wines (nicknamed “Two Buck Chuck” [no, I'm not insulted. No date's called me that in years!] thanks to its EZ price of $1.99 per bottle).
The store (all 12,500-square-feet of it!) will open grandly with a “lei cutting” (the Company’s version of a ribbon cutting) at 8:45 a.m. on that Friday morning, and the store will be open from “9 until 9″ daily (the store I visited cut their hours on Sunday, so you might wanna check!). Now, if any of the other stores are an indication, you’ll need to get to the store early that day, because they’re used to long lines and plenty of shoppers!
Oh … and they’re already plannin’ on opening another one on Arbor Drive later this year, and scouting out an uptownish location as well!
Y’see?? Charlotte is growing, with more and more interesting people, places … and stores … coming our way almost every week!
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