Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s has been and is the great place to shop both in Buffalo and in New York City areas. First off I’m glad that WNY has Trader Joe’s at all!!! Great news!
I like this particular store since no matter when I go I can get fresh fruits and veggies year around! Bread and preserves are very tasty and most importantly natural, without artificial flavoring.
Fresh flowers can be found only in the morning, otherwise they are all dried up.

Aw, so adorbs! I have friends that rave about Trader Joe’s. It’s alright. It’s owned by the same parent company as Aldi’s, so I actually prefer Aldi’s to this as the prices are cheaper and there are just about as many organic choice. I will say Trader Joe’s artisan cheeses are not messing around, those are fantastic. The frozen hash browns are also the very best you can come by – my husband has tried several brands and this is his favorite, so we’ll make a trip just for that. I will also say the bread is really wonderful. So for cheese, bread, and hash browns, and maybe some cute fresh cut flowers, this is a great stop.

I am assuming you already know what Trader Joe’s is. No need to elaborate or write a lengthy description, right?
Having spent time living on the West coast, I can honestly say that I am intimately familiar with Trader Joe’s. Buffalo currently has this single location, jammed in a plaza off the busy Niagara Falls Blvd. Getting to this location can be a challenge during peak driving hours because of the amount of traffic in this area, which doesn’t seem to clear up until after 7 pm. The parking lot is rather large but feels tight for some reason. Even though it is usually packed, you can often find a spot right in front if you look.
This location offers about 95% of the products I expect to find at a TJ’s. I can’t find everything here I could on the West coast, but they do their best to offer a lot of the same products. You’ll find healthy alternatives to all types of things here (cereal, snacks, pop, cheese, meats, etc). The beer section carries a lot of the same stuff I found out West, it’s neat to see them sold here. I love the breads, bags of veggies, breakfast bars, and snacks! I’ve never tried to do all of my shopping here. Instead I subsidize my normal list with healthy (quick) alternatives from here. This usually works out great (when stuff is in stock, see below).
The store can get busy. Isles are wide enough for 2 carts to pass. I actually bring my own reusable bags and shop with those so that I can not only help the environment, but also move more quickly among cart shoppers. The staff here is rather friendly and helpful, but they don’t go out of their way to greet or ask if they can be of some assistance. I always found this strange because every West coast location I’ve been in was the exact opposite. Maybe this is just a WNY thing, I don’t know. The checkers, however, are extremely friendly. They will ask you about your day and offer small talk while they scan your purchases. They always remember to say goodbye and have a nice day!
Really, my only complaint for this location is the stock. I can come here with a list of the 5 – 10 things I need, things only they sell, and almost every visit 1 or 2 things are either not on the shelves or out of stock. By comparison, every TJ’s I’ve been in outside of Buffalo has continuous stockers on the floor filling shelves, greeting customers, and answering questions. I’ve always felt that this location could do a much better job when it comes to that corporate image. It can be a pain to navigate through local traffic to come to this location and then find that some of what you want isn’t even available on that day. They really need to step it up in this area.
I hope the future brings another location that is easier to access during rush hour. Overall this is a ³⁄₅ star experience for me. I’ve had better, but what other choice do we have right now?

Love it! Always did. Used to shop in TJ in Emeryville, California and all over the Bay Area few years back. I used to pack my suitcase with non-​perishable items on my return trip to Buffalo from visits to California for years, believe it or not! But no more. If you think the location on Niagara Falls boulevard is tight and traffic-​congested go to the one in Emeryville! It was a fight to get a parking spot and then bump carts with the other shoppers once you got inside.
Too bad one cannot purchase wine in grocery stores here like in California –I do miss that convenience. Here in NY you can buy beer in grocery stores (and even in the evil Walmart) but not wine. TJ had a good selection of wines. Oh well that’s a topic for another day.
So I will not repeat all you’ve read in other posts — yes, it is a one of a kind store. Great selection of alternative type food. Love the fresh choices like jicama — have yet to see that in Tops or Wegmans. And the Thai curry sauces that help turn your shrimp or chicken into exotic, delicious, dishes.
I always end up seeing something new (or new to me) that I want to try. My daughter loves the kale chips and seaweed snacks. She is the most cool 3^rd grader at snack time thanks to TJ.

I love Trader Joe’s grocery stores and this is the nicest one I have been to. It is pretty small, but the store was very clean, well organized, and well stocked. It’s not a one stop shop and I wish they carried more organic produce, but you can’t beat the prices anywhere. Tofurky «Italian sausages» that are 4.99 at other stores are 2.99 at Trader Joe’s. Organic frozen berries were also very cheap compared to other grocery stores. They also had a lot of beautiful flowers and plants for sale inside.

I love this store. They have some great prices on things, I enjoy the selection as well.
I really love their fresh flowers! They are always so pretty and they are decently priced.
This place is always busy and it’s a small store. But it’s a neat place! The workers are always very friendly.

The Spiced apple cider is the greatest drink of all time. I crave it. Try the roasted red pepper soup its delicious. I’ve been very happy with the products at this store. The service has been fine. I’ve tried the tea tree oil face wash and it’s been great on my very allergic skin. I hated this place when it first opened but wow did they get it together.

Great store. Don’t go to any other these days ! Great flower selection !!’ Beats a florist. Fabulous vegetables and fruit selections. Customer service is outstanding. Prices are reasonable. Some items u can’t buy any where else !

There are few grocery stores worth driving an hour in a blizzard but Trader Joe’s definitely makes the cut.
If you know me, you most definitely know that I am a huge fan of Trader Joe’s. I pined for TJ’s while living overseas and begged for packages filled with their amazing treats.
There are so many reasons to love Trader Joe’s. To name a few:
1. Their prices really aren’t bad, I can buy bags of groceries for $ 50-​$ 60. Plus they take Apple Pay so go ahead and leave your wallet in the car!
2. The quality is great, and produce is always fresh.
3. TJ’s makes it easy to find vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free items by marking their products. No more carefully reading through ingredient lists!
4. Cooking is a breeze when you can buy things like frozen pepper slices, cubed butternut squash, peeled garlic.
5. They don’t have the millions of items like a bigger grocery store, but there are very few things I want that I can’t get at TJ’s. A lot of the things I end up buying are more interesting and healthier than their normal grocery store counterparts. Who needs plain tortilla chips when you can have flax seed veggie chips?!
6. Staff is incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. I was having some friends over and wanted to be a thoughtful borderline vegan and pick up some cheese but was overwhelmed with the number of options. No problem, asked the woman at the sample station and she directed me to the right one.
7. Dark chocolate and pistachio covered toffee. (although, sadly, I can’t seem to find this at the Buffalo store)

I don’t think I could ever even drive by Trader Joe’s without stopping in for something. Today I was going to just stop by to pick up some Broccoli /​Kale slaw to mix up and bring to a Holiday Potluck I am going to tonight. Could I just stick to my list… nope. Also remembered I needed Olive Oil and I love the TJ’s Premium EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) that comes with the pour spout. What else did I pickup? Sunflower Seed Nut Butter, Brown Rice Tortillas, cold Brewed Coffee Concentrate, French Roast Single Serve K– cups, BEER for my Dad, and some Asian Vegetable Thai Gyoza. At first I thought they might be out of stock (the Gyoza), but I asked one of the awesome TJ team members and within minutes he appeared with a case and brought some right to me. Never be afraid to ask for help when you’re at TJ’s whether you are looking for something, or want to taste something if possible. They are amazing, and accommodating in any way they can. Love every shopping trip to Trader Joe’s. Cya soon Joe!

I’m giving Trader Joe’s a 3 star right now because the last 3 – 4 times i have gone there the berries have had mold on them. I come here on my lunch breaks normally and grab some little things i need here and there.
They normally have new products too that i like to scope out from time to time. I love the idea of Trader Joes and i do like a lot of their products such as:
Cold press juice, inexpensive flowers, coconut creamer, cookie butter, cookie butter cream cheese, cheeses, tortilla wraps, quinoa pastas, rice crackers, hard cider & more.
The staff is friendly and helpful when needed. They also have a shelf that they use to specifically display new products that are now stocked, super helpful and neat when i come across something that looks yummy!
Overall i do continue to come here, I’m always sampling new products they offer as well when i’m in the store. It’s quick and easy, the kind of place you can get in and out quickly.

I love Trader Joe’s! I do not know why it took me so long to visit this location. I had previously only been to one in Boston when I lived there, and I only went for wine.
On this visit, I was on a mission to find pizzas and frozen meals that I could bring to work. My mother frequents here, and I have tried a lot of the things she had brought home, so I figured it was time to make a trip of my own.
I always feel odd walking into a place for the first time, because I do not know where anything is and I hate looking like a space cadet looking around for things. However, I was quickly able to find the frozen foods, and was quite pleased with the available selection.
I ended up purchasing 2 pizzas, 3 frozen pasta meals, and 1 frozen risotto meal. The ones I recommend and will be purchasing more of include the french thin crust brie/​tomato pizza, the penne pepperonata, and the fettuccine alfredo (I purchased the plain kind and added tomato and garlic at home). For everything I purchased, I spent less than $ 30! I love the «weird» foods that they have available, compared to the frozen foods that you can find at other supermarkets. I am also not a fan of DiGiorno pizzas and other pizzas found at local supermarkets, so I am glad that Trader Joe’s has such a selection.

The only thing that could make this Trader Joe’s better would be if NY didn’t have such stupid liquor sale laws and they could sell the «2 buck Chuck» here. Seriously, NY, get with the F-​ing program! Let the grocery stores sell liquor and wine like the rest of the free world.
I got hooked on Trader Joe’s back in Washington state. I always go in thinking I’m going to get one thing but end up with a cart full. Lately, it’s been their organic blueberries. My toddler son will only eat Trader Joe’s blueberries and I’ll do pretty much anything to get him to eat «real» food so I end up driving over here frequently for these. I’ve tried doing a taste test myself on the blueberries commonly sold at Wegmans and Tops vs. Trader Joe’s and TJ’s are supreme. Same with avocados… I will only buy avocados here.
They sell really tasty cheeses and their produce is always good. They sell like 17 types of honey (okay, not really but they have a BIG honey selection). My Dad is what you would commonly call «crazy» and he only likes the Trader Joe’s honeys. I’ll tell you what I am absolutely hooked on if you promise to never buy it so they always have it in stock for me… promise? The frozen chocolate lava cakes. Dear sweet Lord, thank you for having Trader Joe’s sell those little cakes of heaven. I love chocolate soufflé but I’m too lazy to make it myself. Those frozen chocolate lava cakes are a lot like a chocolate soufflé. I have yet to find an area restaurant that has a good chocolate soufflé, so this is my fix until that happens. I like to make myself a prawn and avocado flatbread, a blueberry champagne drink and eat one of these delicious desserts. It’s my perfect meal at home, my go-​to meal of happiness.
Everyone seems to like the cookie butter, it’s not my thing. But they have plenty here that does keep me interested.

I absolutely love Trader Joes. It doesn’t hurt that they always have samples too!
Trader Joes doesn’t have everything but it does have a lot of healthy and tasty items that you normally cannot find in a regular grocery store. I love the variety of crunchy options such as veggie sticks, multigrain chips, crunchy broccoli chips and more.
If you go around fall time you have to buy the spiced apple cider. Bring it home, heat it up, and snuggle up. It is so good! Buy two. They are seasonal.
Their cheeses are great too. Their caramelized onion cheese is to die for!!! Sometimes they sample it. It’s amazing.
When you cash out, grab a Trader Joes PB&J chocolate bar. They are amazing!!!
Oh and grab flowers. They are always fresh and beautiful and not expensive.
Overall, service is fantastic. It’s a speciality store so you won’t find it all. But it’s a great stop on your way to Wegmans.

Theres not many more good things about trader joes that has not been already said! Trader joes is a wonderful addition to Buffalo. Even though I am a Wegman’s enthusiast, I think trader joes offers a lot of better deals, even though its smaller and does not have as much selection. Trader joes organic and vegeterian/​vegan options are a lot cheaper.
Some items comparison:
— Trader joes tempeh $ 1.99 compared to 2.99 at wegmans
— Ancient Grain Blend 4.99, wegmans would probably be alot more!
— Trail Mix 5.99 loaded with nuts and fruits!
— Sushi brown rice cali roll 3.49 vs wegmans 4.99
I would say that the prices for produce are around the same as other supermarkets, but Trader joes packaged healthy foods are definitely on the cheaper side. They also have a great selection of pumpkin items in season! Must try: Pumpkin Greek Yogurt, Cranberry and pumpkin seed pita crisps, and Mini Pumpkin pies! Looove this place, had to stop myself before I bought the whole store!

It’s true love for me and Trader Joes! I wanted to try their coconut yogurt to make sure I liked it before I bought a weeks worth. They opened a new one and let me try it without hesitation. It’s wonderful! I bought seven blueberry containers. I just wish they had more flavor options. Today they only had vanilla or blueberry.
Can’t wait until next weeks trip.

Although this is the only trader joes in the buffalo area it never ceases to disappoint. Everyone who works there is extremely helpful and there is never an issue regardless of how crowded it can be.

Best peanut butter cups ever! Dark or milk. Be warned you can never go back to Reese’s again after having one!
They also sell Cookie Butter… if you like ginger bread cookies, beware, this stuff is addictive!
They sell Ak-​Mak, a cracker you can’t buy in Toronto (sob) and on this last trip, I tried their Unexpected Cheddar, an Old Cheddar with a Parmesan after kick, yum!
Habanero hot sauce is also great, and the staff are all super friendly and helpful. When I asked where something was, they didn’t just point or tell me which aisle, they took me around the store until I found my entire list. THAT is customer service!

Now that Trader Joe’s has settled in nicely to the Consumer Square area, I have to say that it’s one of my favorite places to shop. Parking and traffic flow are no longer issues at any given time, save for perhaps the Black Friday/​Christmas season.
Many (most) of the items here are trendy and exciting. I like that kind of stuff. Bacon flavored popcorn? Uh yeah! Watermelon and Cucumber Cooler? Fill me up! I LOVE their frozen Chinese food. The Kung Pao Chicken being my favorite. The Mandarin Chicken is good too, as is every variety of gyoza. The scallion pancakes too! Sometimes their Chinese is better than the food at some of the Chinese places I’ve frequented.
I also adore their produce. They have such thoughtful blends of veggies or fruit in their packaged items. Makes cooking a breeze on nights when you don’t feel like chopping things. I am also addicted to their coconut oil, in both solid and spray form. It’s amazing and super affordable.
My cats LOVE the canned food here. My dogs LOVE some of the treats and chews.
I adore the fresh flowers and rarely leave here without a fresh bouquet. SUPER inexpensive too!
This store is simply awesome. The prices are amazing. Most products are great. Plus the employees are always super nice and seem excited to be there!
Love you TJs! So happy you’re Buffaloving!

It’s been a year since my last update and felt the need to log on and increase my star rating from 2 to 4 stars because I feel as though Trader Joe’s has really gotten their act together since my last review. Last year, I would take the 25 minute drive and be disappointed that the produce wasn’t fresh and that they were out of essential items. Now, rarely do I find myself having trouble finding a good piece of fruit or vegetable and their price, while they never change still beat any other supermarket in the area.
The sole reason for this update, however, is the customer service that I have experience over and over again. They have a no questions asked return policy. Yesterday I came in to the store to return package of beets. I had told the lady at the cashier that they were unopened, but that I had purchased two other packages the same day as these and the other two packages tasted funny and didn’t want to risk opening a third purchased at the same time. I did not have the other two beet packages with me, nor did I ask for or expect any sort of refund for the other two I had since disposed of. The manager came over to the cash register and WITHOUT HESITATION, credited me for three packages of beets. I was confused, and felt guilty accepting this refund, so I inquired with him because I thought he was making a mistake. At that point, the female assisting me told me, not to worry and that I shouldn’t have had such a poor experience with the other two packages, apologized and handed me my refund. I couldn’t believe how considerate this was and without any hassle whatsoever. If only you could have seen the nightmare I faced at Wegmans a few weeks ago, trying to return an unopened item, with the receipt! This policy at Trader Joe’s is fantastic and is the reason why I continue to shop here on a weekly basis.
They have really great prices on their brown rice breads and tortillas. Their 99% lean turkey meat is a dollar cheaper than other stores in the area. Steamed lentils which can feed five or six people are only $ 2.49 a package and are so delicious. Their cleaned and cut kale is in a huge bag and only $ 2. Their nuts are cheaper than other stores and they have a huge assortment. I always get the individual packaged dry roasted unsalted almonds for $ 6.49. Their unsalted sunflower seeds only $ 2 and in a big bag. I find that their almond butters are REALLY salty, so if I were you I would stick to the unsalted versions. Their vegetable, chicken and beef stocks are on average a dollar cheaper than most stores too. I hope Trader Joe’s continues to be great, got me worried there for a second!