Trader Joe's has been really upping their game. Decent prices, full shelves. Some stores even have degustation stands! They make life easy. Tasty dips, herbs, fish, meats and pasta. Classy Main Street items for all. Review: 4 read more

Great store, very clean, and very friendly service. Same awesome products you see in their other stores. There's some fun desserts there now for Valentine's. It was so cold outside but everyone was cheerful inside. read more

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It was a blessing to shop at a Trader Joe's near me in Hartsdale when I lived in Westchester for twenty some odd years. Now that my husband and I live in the Catskills, doing my weekend shopping in Hartsdale, isn't always a given. So when I searched high and low for a Trader Joe's, this Colonie, NY (Albany is like a hair away) popped up just shy of an hour from home. I'll take it. Not for nothing- while I love the Trader in Hartsdale, this location is the muvva of all muvvas: big aisles. I mean BIG. There were no: "ooh...excuse me", "sorry- my cart is too close to you", etc. Nothing like that. Navigating the aisles is super smooth here and forget about browsing, I had way more space and nobody breathing on me. In true Trader J. fashion, shelves are methodically stacked. The part I liked most about this location is that berries and other fridge items were fully stocked the Sunday my husband and I came here. Service is incredible all around and coming to this Trader J. was a totally comfortable shopping experience for me. read more

Trader Joe's - Onion Rings - Grocery Near Me - Colonie, New York

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Trader Joe's is stepping it up these days especially if you love fresh produce. Much of it is seasonal. Some of it can be hard to find locally. A few weeks ago, I was surprised to find they were selling fresh lychees. I was skeptical. Lychees for sale and I'm not in Chinatown? They weren't quite ripe yet. I bought one carton. In hindsight, I should have bought at least two. Previously, I've only purchased lychees in any of NYC's Chinatowns and they were usually perfectly ripe or slightly past due. So I gave these new lychees a few days. They ripened and they were delicious. A week later the lychees were all gone but fresh figs were for sale. I haven't eaten figs in years so I snapped some up. There were some super ripe ones in the carton which I ate right away. Others are still ripening so I can enjoy them over time. When I went back a week later, the supply at the store has sold out. The small yellow watermelons were great, too. Now, there are varieties of Rainier or Queen Anne cherries available. They're almost always pricey no matter where you buy them. Trader Joe's gives you a choice. The larger variety costs a dollar more. I went for the smaller ones which were wonderful. I saved a dollar and since they're very ripe I'm going to turn some of them into jam. As always, the staff is friendly and very helpful. It's clean, inviting and well stocked. Thanks so much for making this summer more enjoyable and healthy with awesome varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables. read more

Trader Joe's - Cherries on sale now and figs which were available a few weeks ago. - Grocery Near Me - Colonie, New York

It's a TJs. A little smaller than most, but fine. Bc NY law, sells no wine or hard liquor, just beer. Next to a dispensery if you need that.

Staff is always friendly and helpful, they keep the store will stocked, clean, and organized. Setup is typical of all Trader Joe's so if you've been to one then you know the layout. read more

Still a great store but I finally got someone to explain the weird alcohol policy. So apparently NYS only allows for the sale of alcohol in grocery stores if it's under 14% ABV. So the alcohol you'll find here is beer and very low alcohol wine. They also have plenty of NA beers and wines. You have to go to a separate liquor store for anything over 14% ABV. read more

Just visited this location and and fell into a snow bank on the uncleared sidewalk and couldn't get up. Customers just walked past me and after 5-10 minutes an employee came out and asked if I was okay. This location is the worst read more

Parking sucked as usual. Especially since it was prime shopping time Sunday afternoon. Human's become animals when trying to get in this place. It is crazy. Went in for a few items and walked out with a bunch. No surprise. read more

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A great grocery store with lots of niche and exotic snack items to take on road trips, compostable "plastic" bags, craft beers, and a plethora of vegan friendly food items to grab. It is also a claustrophobic and rushed experience if you don't go on a weeknight or super early and I found the experience of shopping amidst tight aisles while frenzied shoppers hurried around and moshed their way towards their macaroons to give me the opposite of a chill experience while shopping there for my trip. The service is nice and friendly, there are some cool products I can't get in other places like gourmet Joe Joes (think Oreos with interesting coatings) and I like having them as an alternative to the big box grocery stores but I will not go there on weekends or early/lunch time because I find the experience stressful and anxiety inducing. read more

It's difficult to believe I've never reviewed this Trader Joe's before. Probably because I originally started going here only to buy one product. Yes, that probably sounds strange, but they were the only retailer that sold an item that I regularly used and at a very fair price. Eventually, I heard about a second item that was supposed to be exceptional and indeed it was. Soon there was a third item and my wife discovered a fourth. Now, there are probably still not more than a dozen items that we regularly return for, but we do look at additional products and occasionally try something new. We have yet to be disappointed. The first major hurdle, however, was when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, occupancy was being limited and long lines of waiting shoppers formed outside. I did that twice and decided there had to be a better way. I do give them lots of credit for how they have handled the problems associated with the pandemic. Before you enter they give you the opportunity to disinfect your hands. They do not allow you to bring your own shopping bags into the store because they provide you with their own paper bags at no additional cost. They also disinfect every shopping cart after it is used so the one you pick to use is already safe. A more recent update to helping to maintain social distancing while checking out is the creation of a queue leading to all the checkout counters. This is a great improvement of shopping cart traffic at the front of the store. They also have a special hour on Wednesday and Sunday from 8AM to 9AM for seniors (age 60 and over) and customers with disabilities who may need extra assistance. One final suggestion. Don't go shopping around 7:30 pm. There doesn't seem to be a line of customers waiting to get in at that time and I've reserved that time for myself. read more

Trader Joe's - The 15 minute Covid-19 line. - Grocery Near Me - Colonie, New York

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I'm from the Utica area. So, shopping here for groceries, isn't that convenient. I wish they were closer to me. Yes, more than some items cost a bit much, However, overall offers many items not found in a generic, typical, grocery/supermarket. So, I'm not going to hold it against them(as far as location and size), over things this one store has no control over. Their broader selection of items(of health food options), does stand out. I need to single out 'health food options', because overall, of general, Wegman's stands out(in broad general merchandise, even goods/merchandise, not found other places). It all depends what you are looking for. As far as the experience shopping at Trader Joe's, I am not that type of reviewer. It's a store. You go to buy something and leave. Whether or not you want a life changing event, or something that shudders the utter bane of your existence, is up to the individual. To solidify what was already said, they have more healthy options of groceries than other places. If you are looking for excitement and adventure beyond shopping, then I suggest you need to get out more. read more

Trader Joe's is a lifesaver especially with the high cost of food these days. Where else can you shop and find organic produce you can afford? Plus the customer service is smart and personable. As well as helpful and knowledgeable about their endless array of food options. Highly recommended! read more

Well, after months and months of not buying the soup, I caved yesterday and got one clam chowder. Expiration date was 2/1/2021, but I suspect they meant 1/1/2021 and mislabeled again, because it was sour AF. A word of caution--if the expiration date seems too good to be true for a fresh not frozen soup, it probably is. I did reach out to TJ's just to let them know about the last two times this happened, and they said something like tell someone at the store and get a refund, which I did not feel the need/comfort to do. I just wanted to let them know so they would be more careful in the future. And yet, the one time I decide to buy soup again it happens again. Either I have terrible luck, or everyone should just stay away from the soups at this particular store. This is sad because I love TJs and generally have good experiences here. This string of mishaps with the soup make me question their other fresh prepared foods as well. read more

Customer service is very poor here. I was refused service at checkout because the cashier was "with another customer." Besides being rude, this behavior was ignorant because obviously as a cashier you will always be ringing people up all day. It's the reason people form a line. All I did was get in her line and she literally told me and my minor child to leave her line. I have never encountered such a disrespectful person in any store in decades of shopping. Trader Joe's staff are typically known for being friendly. I did report her to the manager and emailed corporate to alert them to the hostile cashier. Had I not been flabbergasted, I would have left the store and refused the purchase in response to being refused service. I'm disgusted and am writing this review to warn others. While I was there, I was helped by another very kind gentleman who heard me being turned away and came over to me to get my cart and bring it to his register. He's an angel and reminded me there's always good people in the world. I wish I knew his name. Whoever you are THANK YOU for having a heart. read more

Five stars to Trader Joe's Colonie for its social distancing practices in the time of COVID-19. At noon on a Wednesday there were about a dozen people waiting to get in, but the line moved quickly. A staffer was outside, making sure everyone kept their distance and telling people who brought their own bags to put them back in the car. (TJ's packs your groceries in their big paper bags for free, a win because you can use them after for recycling.) As you reach the door, a second staffer wipes down the handle of the cart and hands it off to you along with a squirt of sanitizer if you want it. Once inside, everybody was masked and doing a good job of keeping out of one another's way. In stocks were excellent.... Found everything I needed though did not think to check flour. Checkout had a Plexiglas shield between you and the checker and the only contact was when you got your receipt. Of note, they have an hour reserved for seniors and vulnerable folks from 8-9 am daily. read more

Trader Joe's opened in August 2012 after many people lobbied hard to bring a store to the Capital District. My husband and I shop there every week to buy produce, frozen foods, coffee, eggs, milk, yogurt, orange juice, cheeses, snacks, nuts, pizzas and pasta from Italy, specialty beers, greeting cards, fresh flowers etc. The store is not huge, but it is packed with good food, and it is easy to navigate. The store is organized well, and the friendly crew is eager to assist. AND customers are easy going and pleasant even when the store is crowded. Prices are reasonable considering the quality of the products and compared to Whole Foods and other markets. The Trader Joe brand stands for quality. Do you know that you can ask to sample any item? Do you know that crew are very competent and speedy in checking you out? Do you know you can sample featured items at the tasting station? Do you know that hot coffee samples are always available? Do you know there is a huge variety of flowers and plants available at amazing low prices. Delivered to store daily! Do you know that Mates/managers will gladly check on availability of items and answer your questions? Do you know there is a large variety of quality greeting cards for only $.99? I could go on and on with superlatives, but I have made my point: Love Trader Joe's! read more

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Please Pleas bring Trader Joes to Pittsfield Mass.!!!!!! I have lived in LI, NY, SF C.A., and have always had a Trader Joes near by. My favorite grocery/ food store for 40 years! I moved to Pittsfield Mass. And that is no TJ near me. I have to travel over an hour into upstate NY to find one. Tanglewood is in Lenox, Lee and these are hot areas for TJ store. Loads of NY city folks come here all summer and winter. We need you here! You are first class! The absolute best food I have ever had! I invite you to the Berkshires!!!! read more

This is by and large the best grocery shopping experience I've ever had!! Having just moved to the area I never understood why there is ALWAYS a long line outside of Trader Joe's in Albany. I had this preconceived notion that Trader Joe's was this boujie, upscale, expensive grocery store. I found out this to be the furthest thing from the truth two days ago. I planned to go to Trader Joe's to purchase a gift card for my girlfriend's mother, being that her birthday was coming up. She LOVES Trader Joe's. Knowing there is ALWAYS a line outside, I planned to get there a little early on Saturday. So, I arrived at 8:40a when they open at 9. Then I wait in line for twenty minutes and proceed into the store. The first thing I notice is an array of beautiful flowers and plants all of which are moderately priced. So, I decided to buy my girlfriend "just because" flowers. I decided on two bouquets of various sunflower arrangements (sunflowers are her favorite). As I'm walking around the store, I notice EVERYTHING is reasonably priced- some stuff less expensive than Walmart. I'm taken back by this and say to myself, "Now I see why there is always a line outside." Not to mention a vast majority of their products are organic which I also appreciate. As I'm walking down one of the aisles with my cart a store worker named Ariel says to me, "Those flowers are beautiful! May I look at them?" To which I replied, "Absolutely". After she looks at them for a second she says, "These flowers are too beautiful. You know what? They are on me! Someone is going to be incredibly happy upon receiving them". She then scratches off the UPC code on them. I'm shocked at this and begin to express my gratitude. I then explain they are for my nine-month pregnant girlfriend and how much I love her. Ariel then inquires about the name of the baby and says what a blessing it is to be a parent. Being a first time Dad, I then asked for parenting advice. The whole conversation was extremely heartfelt and genuine, which in my 38 years I've never experienced in a grocery store from a grocery worker. I then proceeded to the checkout lane and was greet by an additional two workers who were equally friendly and kind. They asked if I found everything ok. I told them how lovely Ariel was and how impressed I was with the store, prices, the kindness of the workers. I told them it was my first time at a Trader Joe's as I just moved from Louisiana and that we didn't have one. They proceed to give me a free Trader Joe's shopping bag and welcomed me back home as I told them I am originally from the area but just retired from the US Army. These two workers were equally kind and genuine. The workers in this store make you feel like you are an actual part of the Trader Joe Family. Like I said, this was by and large the best shopping experience I ever had. I will undoubtedly return to Trader Joes and will recommend everyone I know to do the same! read more

Trader Joe's - Flowers from Ariel : D - Grocery Near Me - Colonie, New York

I came in here looking for nothing, and left with a bag full of goodies. Coming here is less like grocery shopping and more like food shopping therapy. Everything sounds so good, looks so good, and is priced so well. I don't come here for full blown grocery shopping, but I come here to get some goodies and unique food stuffs I can't get other places. My last trip I found horseradish hummus, italian hot pepper bomba sauce, a very well prices assortment of fancy cheeses, some unique seasoning blends, cauliflower gnocchi, shimp gyoza, truffle cheese crisps, and more! And I left a happy shopper with the prices. My vegetarian/vegan friend came with me and got herself a bunch of goodies as well. there is such a good variety of vegan and vegetarian options. Customer service with a smile, great product, great prices. read more

I love love LOVE Trader Joe's! I used to drive to Massachusetts to get to one (anyone that has been in the capital region long enough to have known it before we got our own TJ's and also loves this store knows what MA store I'm talking about) because they have things that you just cannot get anywhere else. They have so many things that I love that I sometimes avoid the store so I don't spend away my bank account. Lol. Their frozen vegetables are so cheap too! I must have Trail Mix, Everything but the bagel seasoning, lots of their frozen vegetarian meals and burritos, snacks and I love their chips. Too many items to name here! I will say the one major negative is their parking lot. I enter from the mall and park in one of the lots behind the store. It's nuts to try to park in their lot unless you have a car that you don't care about. It WILL get scratched due to the tight spaces and huge crowds of people stalking for a place to park. I wish the capital region could get at least one more location to ease the crowds. I know this region could support at least two more locations! :-) read more

Always a pleasant shopping experience. The employees there are always nice and helpful and the store has a great variety of fresh vegetables and unique products. Well done. read more

Friendliest TJ crew as always. They're welcoming and knowledgeable of new TJ items. Parking lot of always filled on weekends, go on a weekday where there aren't many shoppers and you can take your time strolling through the aisles. The produce display is scattered across the first section when you walk in. It's not clutter in the dead center where most TJs has it. I like the spacious walk through of the produce/fruits section. Always an enjoyable experience at TJs. That's my go to grocery store. read more

Seems kind of silly to review a place that is so obviously great, so I'm just going to throw my two cents in regarding TJ's vegetarian selections; they have some of the BEST! Below is a brief list of some of my faves: - Beef-less ground beef: TJ's brand of this is the only one I like; great replacement in things like chili and tacos - Gnocchi al Gorgonzola: one of the few quick frozen meals I keep in my house. Great to have on hand for nights I don't want to prepare a meal from scratch. Sauce is thick and cheesy, gnocchi have great texture - Soy Chorizo: meat eaters might disagree, but this tastes eerily similar to the real thing; love using it in nachos, chili, and spanish-style rice - Chicken-less Mandarin Orange Morsels: Great addition to rice, the mandarin orange sauce is killer - Green Jackfruit (cans): Jackfruit without any of the hassle of breaking it down yourself; makes a great pulled pork substitute Obviously there are many more that could be listed, go explore the store and see what gems you can find; just beware of the parking! read more

Perhaps the hardest part of transitioning from life in northern California to upstate New York in 2007 was the absence of Trader Joe's. Now that we have this location on Wolf Road, it is as if my former way of life has returned. The thing is that Trader Joe's has a whole lot of products that you just cannot find anywhere else. And of those things you can find elsewhere, TJs has them for much less money. Everyone has their favorite items, so I'll share with you my basket of goods. Organic baby carrots - great price Organic apples by the bag - great price Organic potatoes by the sack - great price Organic lowfat yogurt - great price Organic butter - great price Kriemhild butter - great product Eggplants by the piece - great price TJs Mac & Cheese - great product TJs organic whole grain spaghetti - great product TJs organic baked beans - great product TJs Spanish olive oil - great price Akmak crackers - great product TJs salted peanut butter - great product TJs frozen sweet peas - great price TJs frozen French green beans - great product TJs frozen organic corn - great price Applegate organic grassfed hot dogs - great price TJs 100% whole grain hot dog buns - great product TJs soft corn tortillas - great product TJs fancy shredded Mexican cheese blend - great product TJs sliced swiss cheese - great product Not everything is great. There are certainly some stinkers. I'm not crazy about a lot of their prepared frozen foods. Joe's O's are good, but they aren't even close to the texture of Cheerios. Their hummus makes me mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore. And beyond hot dogs, I can't say I buy a lot of meat from this market. Parking? Yeah, that's a problem. But there are workarounds. You can park in the northwest corner of the Colonie Center lot and walk the block if it's really bad. But I can count those occasions on one hand. Mostly, I simply ignore the entire section of the parking lot in front of Trader Joe's and only consider spots on the HoneyBaked Ham side. The store side is a fool's gambit. Outgoing and incoming traffic is far too likely to get jammed up at any number of bottlenecks, and I just don't have the patience to deal with that. The upside of the small parking lot is that regardless how gnarly it is outside, the store itself is never packed. I remember well the Trader Joe's of the SF bay area having checkout lines mobbed with carts packed so densely, it was impossible to tell where one line ended and the next began. Navigating that mess of humanity was a lot more stressful than attempting to find a parking spot within 100 paces of the front door. read more

Trader Joe's - There are many Trader Joe's just like this one, but this one is ours. - Grocery Near Me - Colonie, New York

This Trader Joe's is laid out like many others. If you've been to one before you know the drill. Look out for great deals in unexpected places. Such as the hummus, and the quinoa spread. I tried the hummus, but not the quinoa spread yet. If you are looking for nuts of whatever nature they usually have a great variety at decent prices. I did find Lara Bars for a great price, and I snagged a few. The beer selection can be hit or miss. You really need to know your TJ's beers to know if they are a good deal. I sometimes get the pale lager, a steal at $3.99 a six pack. Granted it's not cold, but for a decent (not anything spectacular mind you) beer, it's worth a shot. Enjoy! read more

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This location is my favorite Trader Joe's. The average wait time to get in is 10-15 minutes, in a socially distant line. Sanitizer is offered before going in. Very friendly and helpful staff. read more

I love TJ's. Tis the season for pumpkin and cornbread season. There's always a line outside to ensure that there's social distancing outside the store. read more

It's what you'd expect from a Trader Joe's. Always our first stop for grocery shopping. The parking lot can be a complete sh*t show so don't go during peak times. However, they do have the best flowers in Albany. read more

I have been here many times over the past 6 months and my opinion has changed. Parking on a weekend or during the weekday dinner rush time is impossible, so I park in the back or next door when I need to come during those times. However, now I usually come in the evening when it is quieter. I usually shop here for individual items ("I know I need ___") or impulse items ("Let's walk around the store and see if anything looks interesting.") I still don't understand their floor plan... sometimes, I can find the same item in two or three different areas. My updated rating is based on coming during off-peak hours. If you come during peak hours, my older 2-star review applies. read more

Waited ages and ages for Trader Joe's to come to Albany! This location is definitely a busy spot, so I pretty much only shop here Sunday mornings. Otherwise I end up parking in the Colonie Mall lot and walking over because the lot gets too full and neurotic. The store is also small and homey in true Trader Joe's style. There is so much packed into this store, from plants to produce, frozen foods and even bath products. While I like fresh foods, we always buy a ton of frozen stuff, so I recommend bringing a cooler or cooler bag. Trader Joe's is fun and unique, and it's fun to see what I find each trip, almost sure to add a fave to my list. Some current faves: frozen tamales, organic rainbow carrots, bi bim bop bowls (frozen), tea tree shampoo, smoked almonds, frozen roasted corn. read more

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I was on the list of Capital Region residents begging for them to open up here. (Could've told them that parking lot would be inadequate!) Pretty much all their pre-prepared food is amazing (try the Indian dishes!). I also can't find true Spanish chorizo anywhere else. Please advise, if you know where else I can look! read more

They were perfect. From the very efficient and friendly line to get in. To the limits of customers, to the service, and of course to the choice of items to purchase. This visit to Trader Joes was absolutely a friendly and safe visit. We have not been to a better grocery store in a very long time. read more

I've been a fan of the Trader Joe's chain of stores for a long time now. My only issue with this particular location (and it's an issue in other locations across the state) is the parking. When it's busy, it's a cluster. The lot is small and so are the spaces. Just be patient...b/c there's a reason why Trader Joe's is so busy. Selection, Selection.....selection. Unique frozen items/meals, organic (and non-organic) produce, baked goods, gluten free options, cool variety of beers, various coffee beans, cheeses, meats...I can go on. Don't be fooled - not everything here is health food. In fact, there are so many wonderful treats all over the place...and many of them pack in quite a solid amount of calories. There are just so many items that aren't available at the regular supermarket. And....I've been consistently impressed with the people that work there. Always friendly, helpful and just have a nice energy about them. The people make me want to go back there. Ok...so does the chocolate. I also am a big fan of the coffee grinder situation. I buy quite a bit of coffee at Trader Joe's and let those machines do the whole bean grinding for me. One is designated as regular - the other is decaf. You can fit a ton o'beans in them thar machines. Anyway, I'm a fan. Wish it was closer to where I live but it's worth the drive. Oh - and I love that they were one of the first chains to accept Apple Pay. Another plus. read more

What can I say that has not already been said about this place. The layout in the store is amazing and cycles the guests well. Produce is infront of you when you immediately walk into the store. My favorite part of the store would be the frozen food section. Since I am all about portions, the bags of orange chicken are 4.99 a bag and they will last me one or two meals. What a deal! Being from California, I will always recommend bringing your own bags to the grocery store. But this is usually hard to remember but it definitely helps the environement. One of the things to watch out with the store is the parking on the outside. It is less than ideal and it can be sometimes impossible to find a parking spot unless you come during off hours. Furthermore, the stree that it is on is often busy so pulling out to make that illegal left can be often pointless. read more

I went to my first Trader Joe's a couple years ago and remember not understanding the hype. I forgot about it, and then news got out that we were getting one and all of the TJ fans started going on and on about how great it was, so I re-visited TJ's. Meh, meh, meh.. and more meh. Lots of packaged and pre made food. Which is fine if it's good, but I've gotten better packaged cocktail shrimp from Target. The Cookie Butter that gets a gagillion thumbs up? Tastes like cheap peanut butter mixed with gingerbread cookies. It is also super paste-like. The fruit was fine, same quality and some of the same brands I can get anywhere. I can go on, about what fell short in the three full bags of items I left with, but I won't. 2 stars for the spicy hummus, it's really good. As are their brand of pita chips. They also have a nice party cracker assortment, and I picked up a good grana padano on the cheap. TJ's seems to be going for an island feel, wish they'd carry more items that go with that.. POG juice, guava juice, yum. I still don't get the hype. What exactly do you TJ fans buy?? read more

Trader Joe's - Not sure why they felt the need to double bag everything. Hope this isn't the usual bagging method they plan on using :/ - Grocery Near Me - Colonie, New York

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OK, as promised I have upgraded TJ's to four stars after finally finding a parking place, on my fifth try. (No, it will never, ever get that fifth star as long as the parking is so bad). What follows is a discursive and rambling review of some apples to apples and apples to kumquats comparisons. First disclaimer is, I am very much more of a Whole Foods guy than a Trader Joe's guy. Whole Foods stores are bigger, have bulk foods, have, well, "whole" foods more and in varieties and quantities that allow one to shop for a family. TJ's have smaller stores and has always tended to have packaged and processed stuff, in smaller sizes, even for the nifty vegetables. It's a store for people cooking for 1-2 people, more or less. That said, the quality has always been very good and now we have a TJ's - and no Whole Foods, as yet - I fully intend to patronize this location for things I find difficult to get elsehwhere in the area, at least when I can find a parking spot. The prices are pretty cheap for the quality and the TJs-only things, such as a lot of their branded quick-frozen meals, jarred stuff like bruschettas and the like, and some wonderful things from "home" (Mission Ale from Paso Robles CA!! I've BEEN there! yay!) while not exactly staples are a nice treat. I also note this is the only place in the area I've found that stocks tritip, both pre-seasoned and regular, albeit at a bit of a premium. Some randomized notes: (1) The store personnel, while definitely trying, aren't quite yet up to the level of perkiness I associate with the generally well-treated-for-grocery-store-staff folks at other TJs; which is to say they're about 900% more cheerful than most grocery store employees around here, still. Break out the hawaiian shirts for more than just the managers, guys. (2) I was never that compelled by the Two Buck Chuck and so forth in the Wine section at TJs (not enough predictability, although the occasional bargains were astonishing), or the liquor per se, but I never quite realized how much of the store it took up until I visited this nearly alcohol-free TJs (just beer, thanks New York State and your bizarre liquor laws). It's actually GREAT - it frees up a big part of the store, and while this may be a shocker to locals without other TJ experience, this is pretty much the brightest and most open TJs I've ever been too, possibly the largest. I like it like this. (3) They have at this location labeled with arrows where to put your cart and where to put yourself at checkout, but it doesn't seem to help a bit. And the clerks haven't mastered getting the stuff off the belt TJs-style as yet, given the short checkout stands. Confusion reigns even on an "off" peak time and this will likely continue to be a logistical problem for customers until they work it out. So, bottom line: the parking is still dreadful and TJs is going to retain its zero-star status with me when I can't park, which means I can't make it a destination, but as a random stop when I happen to be driving by, if I can get to the parking lot then, a solid four stars and an above-average location relatively speaking. read more

Okay, so it's Trader Joe's and there's been a ton of hype both positive and negative but I'm thrilled. I absolutely hate the location, so I don't see myself going there once a week but they've got a ton of stuff that I can now avoid buying at the local grocery store. The store was packed and I felt like I was shopping with TJ virgins who stopped in the aisle and gawked at things. There were some empty spaces on the shelves and I couldn't get a couple of things I wanted. The aisles were the widest I've ever seen in a TJs. Checking out took only a couple of minutes and I walked out with a free grocery bag (my motto in life is "free is good"). read more

Shout out to Bill at TJs Colonie who gave me cooking directions for the honey Aleppo sauce and then gave stickers to my kid. Such a nice team member and hope he gets rewarded for his awesome work. read more

I went Saturday night still teaming masses long lines and people pushing their carts through like it's been open for years. I have to say I don't get it. Nothing what I thought, but shelves were empty! Everyone who wanted trader joes it's yours you can have it. I'm waiting for whole foods, but till then I have my fresh market. I will say joe's has a nice cheese section. read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Colonie, New York