Friday, January 3, 2020

The new East Village Trader Joe's opens on Monday



The Trader Joe's opens Monday morning at 8 here at 436 E. 14th St. just west of Avenue A... EVG regular Greg Masters snapped these shots yesterday (thanks also to Gojira for a heads up) ...



An EVG tipster told us in early November that Jan. 6 was to be the opening day.

EVG reader Mr. Baggs also shared photos... new employees are on the scene...



Industry pub Grocery Dive had a few more details about this TJ's:

It features local artwork and is headed by a "store captain" with 14 years of experience with the company. This will be Trader Joe's ninth location in New York City and its second in the East Village neighborhood.

This TJ's boasts 8,531 square feet of ground-floor space with 14,170 square feet on a lower level.

This is the final step in the long evolution (first reported in May 2017!) of the new EV TJ's, just a few blocks from the Union Square outpost that opened in 2006.

The location is in the retail space of the newish 8-story luxury rental called EVE. This development is on the site of the onetime Peter Stuyvesant Post Office (1951-2014).

P.S.

According to Grocery Dive, Trader Joe's has not indicated any plans to reinstate the home-delivery service that it discontinued last March.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Trader Joe's finally confirms that a Trader Joe's is opening on 14th Street at Avenue A

All about EVE, the Peter Stuyvesant Post Office-replacing rentals on 14th Street

Claim: A Trader Joe's won't be coming to new development at 14th and A after all

Trader Joe's: No current plans for grocery at 432-438 E. 14th St.

Looks like there's a Trader Joe's coming to 432-438 E. 14th St. after all

37 comments:

GARY said...

SAME PROCESSED CRAPPY FOOD AS THE OTHER CHAINS BUT SERVED WITH A SMILE.

kim said...

CRAPPY
gary {just curious where do you shop??

Anonymous said...

Gary's comment sums up snarky plebiean ignorance in 2020 pretty nicely. Hey Gar, I shop TJ's and I am probably the healthiest eater you ever met. They stock crap but also plenty of wholesome shit too.

Big thanks to EVG and anonymous tipster for breaking this news a while ago, where nobody else could.

Will said...

I feel like Trader Joe's opening a new store four blocks away from their Union Square location really shows how underretailed New York is

GARY said...

Kim I shop EVERYWHERE but only TJ can bamboozle the IGNORANT into thinking they are buying Healthy (hint Mono Diglycerides in EVERYTHING)

Anonymous said...

Can we please try to get along with one another without being snarky for at least a couple of weeks? It's only the third day of 2020.

If you don't like TJ's, it's simple: don't shop there. I can't purchase all of my grocery items in that store, but I buy several unique products that aren't found elsewhere. Not only is less expensive than their counterparts, but the selection of goods and the level of customer service is astonishing. Employees often greet me, they ask if I need help with anything, and many happen to smile; can you imagine an employee smiling at you just to be welcoming in NYC no less? You will be hard pressed to find that level of interaction at Whole Foods or Associated. I usually frequent the LES location because of it's massive size and little crowds. Since this new location is a few blocks from my flat, I am excited. I just hope it doesn't have the sheer amount of patrons and craziness that Union Square does, which I avoid like the plague.

Let's welcome this latest TJ addition with open arms and be grateful Alphabet City has more options, which now includes Target and our incoming subway station on the L train. All of the latter are wonderful things to celebrate. Happy New Year!

cmarrtyy said...

TJ, welcome to the neighborhood... Again! Love the store... products and service.

Anonymous said...

my next door neighbor and I were lamenting the lost of Associated Supermarket. It really leaves a big hole that TJs will not fill.
I hate TJs. I go in there and really try to shop there, but leave empty handed. Produce is wrapped in plastic, and there are additives in everything. more soulless shit. no thanks.

Anonymous said...

Looking forward to this location. I like the Grand St store because it's not crowded, but this one is closer to home.

I go to TJs for specific things, but do most of my grocery shopping at Key Food and EVO. One store doesn't have everything I need, but I like having a variety of choice.

Anonymous said...

Bravo 11am!

Shazziz said...

I'm THRILLED!!! It's so much closer to us now and my shoulders won't break schlepping bags home! I do wih they reinstated delivery though...

C Leonard said...

For those that like TJs it'll be great. That one on 14th & 3rd was overcrowded. The Associated is closing. Now if we can get an Aldi...

curious said...

Sure wish they could add a wine store st this location

Sheila Reveala said...

I agree on the processed crap comment and the fact that this TJ doesn't satisfy those of us wanting more freshness. But TJ's decent options will still be the lowest priced, and its customer service exemplary. It will also be a mad house except on early weekend mornings.

Anonymous said...

If NY didn't have such ridiculous laws they could have a wine store.

PT said...

As a far-east 14th resident, I currently frequent Trader Joe's and C-Town on C. A benefit of TJ's being a niche grocery, is that its closest competitors can divide in its vicinity. Competition is a good thing.

And it's unfortunate Associated left. They had certain products its closest competitors didn't - cold cuts, for example. I think there could have been room for all three, but Associated did not seem to be managed, stocked, and priced in a way to remain competitive.



Anonymous said...

Trader Joe’s is great for certain items, and at good prices. But what almost nobody wants to admit is that almost nobody who shops at TJs can get all of their grocery needs met without having to shop at multiple other stores. This is fine if you are young, healthy and don’t mind constantly running around to different stores.

Losing Associated makes it more difficult for seniors and the disabled to get what they need, and Trader Joe’s is no substitute for a supermarket that stocks tens of thousand more SKUs than Trader Joe’s average of 4000 SKUs or items per store. In fact the average supermarket offers 40,000 SKUs. This limited selection is how TJs offers better prices, by giving you only 10% of the choices you have at regular supermarkets. Plus they don't even offer delivery anymore, forcing you to wait in long lines.

Sadly, Amazon Pantry is a better option than TJs for older residents in the area,, with low prices and free same day or next day delivery for Prime members. No that we have fewer good local supermarkets nearby, people will turn to online delivery instead.

Anonymous said...

If you think Trader Joe’s is soulless, did you go to Associated? It was full of walking zombies selling over priced mainstream packaged food from global conglomerates...

Anonymous said...

I go to the super secret, VIP section of every Trader Joe's, where they stock organic fruit, vegetables, eggs, dairy, beef, chicken, etc. It's also where they keep the cheeses that don't have any weird additives. There's also pantry staples like dry pasta and rice that don't have the weird additives. I feel sorry for all you suckers that don't know about this section.

Anonymous said...

I can remember when shopping for a meal required many stops and it was a pleasure: the Thursday Only Egg Store, multiple fruit and vegetable stands, the cheese store, the Polish delicacy market, the Polish butcher, several fresh fish markets (with live fish at Passover for choosing and grinding to make homemade gefilte fish), the Italian market on 1st Ave for homemade specialties (later owned/made by a Korean gourmand) , Russo’s for more Italian, deRoberto’s for desserts...

And today we shop at multiple supermarkets for...packaged goods.

Anonymous said...

I love the old ev verbal soaring. Whatever. They have good trash. And that post office was so bad.

Anonymous said...

Still waiting for somebody to publish one single example of these "weird additives" in Trader Joes products.
All I buy is organic stuff there, so I really don't know what these peole are talking about.

Abfus said...

Great comments, everyone -- thank you

Anonymous said...

@6:55PM. I think you just unintentionally proved the point about Trader Joes not having much selection vs Associated; this isn't about people who have np problem getting around, its for the disabled and seniors who depend on a single grocery store for most is not all of their needs. Someone in a wheelchair or on a walker is not hopping on a subway to go out to Smorgusburg to hunt for some bacon flavored ice cream, or schlepping bags all over the neighborhood in search of the perfect ball of smoked mozzarella. As far as packaged goods go, Trader Joe’s is mostly packaged goods, but with one tenth the selection of a regular supermarket, and there are better places to get organic produce. TJs may seem cheaper, but package sizes on many items are often smaller than other chains for the same or higher price per pound, so.a senior on a fixed income isn't getting the kind of savings that would make it worth the hassle. So enjoy your schlepping while you can until you have your first knee or hip replacement, or have a lung or heart condition that prevents you from traveling miles to get basic groceries. Maybe you could pick up some things for your neighbors who cannot do the same.

Anonymous said...

I like Trader Joes. Their store brands are the same as some high priced brands. The workers are helpful and nice. The line goes quickly.

Anonymous said...

@ 12:30 PM
And please tell where this better place for the people who you are talking about is, to go for organic groceries? Especially, East of Ave. A.
Seniors get to go straight to the head of the check-out line at TJ. Where else do they get to do that?
"higher price per pound"? Flat out falsehood. You have nothing to back it up.
Meanwhile, you can continue to be "old-school" and enjoy your Cargill pink slime. Bon Apetit.

Anonymous said...

Full disclosure, my wife and I go to the US TJs all the time. And my last wait there on a weekday late afternoon was 12 minutes. That being said unless it is at some odd hour, the shopping experience at the US store sucks, one must always say “excuse me” to gain access to the sections where the lines are, etc. And even though the aisles are narrow, the shopping experience is far superior at Westside Mkt. at 3rd Ave and 12th ST. And sorry, the produce at TJs is meh at best. And this blind devotion to TJs, don’t we have enough cult worship going on?

Anonymous said...

I’m @ 6:55PM. Not sure what in your comment was directed at me. Clearly, from the mere mention of some of the shops, I am one of those senior citizens (with 2 arthritic knees and stairs to climb). I cook from “scratch “ and find it harder and harder to find cuts of meat or other ingredients I want. Vegetables and meats are often prepackaged for the convenience of people who don’t know how to cook or are too busy on their phones to peel and chop a broccoli floret. Shopping at any local market has become frustrating, TJ or otherwise.

Anonymous said...

Maybe if we say the name three times it'll appear (Aldi...Aldi...Aldi...)!

Anonymous said...

sure TJs has tons of prepared foods but they also have produce and bakery items and staples at excellent prices (and have truly reduced packaging on produce in the last year). you don't HAVE to buy all the prepared processed foods although if you do you might find they actually have fewer additives and scary ingredients than the mainstream brands you'd find at Associated or Key Foods. As per their website, any product with the Trader Joes label is guaranteed to have no GMOs, no artifical preservatives, no artificial colors, no artifical trans fats. You might not like the gimmicks, or be able to get your brand of whatever-it-is-that-comes-in-a-box there, but you can't be down on their ingredients. I, for one, am happy to not have to deal with the crowds at the union square location, or shlep to grand street for a better experience.

Marie said...

3:39 Why so SNARKY and NASTY Mr TJ?

Anonymous said...

Trader Joe’s received a grade of D- on the most recent Retailer Report Card when it comes to toxic chemicals used in their food packaging, So it doesn't matter if the label says the product is organic or contains no artificial colors or additives if the packaging itself contains toxic chemicals. By comparison, Whole Foods received a B+.

Here is the report:
https://retailerreportcard.com/retailer/trader-joes/

Anonymous said...

It's how you choose to buy! If you eat crap, you can find some "better" crap. But they have super prices for excellent organic produce, organic meats and tofu, organic dried nuts and fruits, best sardines, best deal on organic Olive Oil, excellent coffee beans, wild sock-eye salmon, scallops and shrimp, well priced recycled paper products and they make FLOWERS and plants affordable for all. Don't buy the prepared products, packaged meals are crap no matter where you buy them!

Anonymous said...

I really need to know more about "the Thursday Only Egg Store" please!

Gojira said...

@Anon. 11:01:

https://gothamist.com/miscellaneous/history-video-of-the-day-the-east-village-egg-store

It was a great place to shop, and damn, those eggs were delicious.

Anonymous said...

Oh yes:Mike the Butcher!! Another sorely missed EV fixture!

afbp said...

for SOME naysayers---we LOVE TJ's---think it's a well prepared analysis---https://www.realfoodwholelife.com/blog/healthy-dos-and-donts-of-shopping-at-trader-joes