My friend and I figured we would be doing a great thing by getting out early this morning to grab a few things before the rush. Nope, based on the crowd we were late! Trader Joe's always seemed to be busy, so I wasn't surprised. Plus, I can't see why no one wouldn't want to shop here. This store is simply amazing! I enjoy their selections of wine, produce, and plenty of items to keep your coffee bar filled among other unique finds! You name it, they have it. My plan was to take pictures, but I got so caught up with the ooh and awes I was steadily tossing items in my buggy! So, if you're looking for a place to shop to gather ideas on dishes to prepare for you and your family, run over to Trader Joe's, and I mean run before they sell out! I know I am:) This location was clean, and customer service was exceptional. I will continue shopping here, and I highly recommend. read more

Greats place to shop on a budget. Never ending treats, meals and snacks. Service is special TJ's! It's clean and well maintained. Ask for free stickers read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

I'm from the west coast where TJ's RULES and has a lot more variety in it's stores, but tegardless, It's absolutely one of my favorite storeshere in Columbia. They always have seasonal items to try & they have the best costumer service HANDS DOWN. The only problem is that there should be at least 3 or 4 stores for a city this size, preferably one out near Sandhills Mall area. We need more Trader Joe's!! read more

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This is a pretty good store, although I usually only come here to grab a few items. I personally love their selection of beers, and in particular, their Boatswain IPAs. I also love their flowers, specialty chips, and their fresh fruit. Finally, I love the local artwork painted on the walls of the store; it makes the store feel more like a neighborhood market than a large-scale chain. And, of course, I love how friendly their staff is. Would recommend! read more

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Like a lot of Trader Joe's locations, the biggest drawback here was parking. People were inventing their own spaces, or if you were there on a weekend you could try your luck at the reserved parking for the medical complex and bank next door that isn't open on Sunday. The selection was broad, and though I never find 100% of my favorite TJ's items at any one time, I certainly checked some boxes shopping here. The price was good, and the relative expediency of checkout is always impressive given the crowds. I'd shop local for produce first, but this place has plenty to offer. read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

The parking lot is wayyyy too small and as someone with parking anxiety this was my nightmare. People waiting to take over your parking space, tight spaces and limited space to move around other cars but I did manage to park and get out in one piece. Loved all the flowers available that ranged in price range. All the flowers are gorgeous. I loved all the fall items in the bakery section and all the produces were fresh. Employees were nice and offered suggestions when I was debating which dumplings to get in the freezer section. They have a nice selection of Asian Dumplings. I enjoyed my pick with the park Sui mai. Definitely easy to spend a bunch picking up random items but so many good choices that I don't regret read more

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The thing about TJ's is that most of them are the same and you know what to expect. A few things they sell are not any good and I don't buy them twice, but other things are great and I always wish they had more. Best part about this location is the service of the staff. Every single time I visit there are so many people inside looking to help you get what you need and then get checked out quickly! Worst part here is the parking lot, place always seems hectic. I suppose two more locations in Cola and maybe a few more in adjacent cities would help so much. High recommend for the wine selection too! read more

Trader Joe's - Beer and wine! Yes please! - Grocery Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

I drove 30 minutes to this Trader Joe's because it is the closet location to me and the shelves were bare. The store is so small so I don't understand how it's hard to restock the shelves. I asked two workers if they look for an item for me and they told me to wait 39 minutes to see if they possibly had the item. That's absolutely ridiculous. I expect a worker to go above and beyond to help a customer but I guess Trader Joe's doesn't care about their customers wants. read more

Great Trader Joes and the only one around that's had a recent delivery of the Strawberry Jalapeno crisps (can't find these anywhere else right now). We were in town and stopped in to stock up on all of our favorite snacks for the week. Highly recommend. read more

I shop at this Trader Joe's whenever I'm visiting the area. They are just as friendly as the Charleston location. Great selection of unique goods and produce. The store is made up a little different and it's always packed, but aren't they all. Seasonal products are out for the summer. And I definitely had to snag a bottle of vino. It's always a pleasure speaking with the cashiers. My last two visits, I've found some commonalities between us both. Great food and friendly workers makes the shopping experience such a pleasure. read more

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Great food and great prices!!! I highly recommend it. The staff was very helpful. A must visit...

I went here one time at their Forest Acres location in Columbia, SC. I had taken my mom, and we wanted to check it out and at the time they had just opened that location. This was the only location, and we lived probably 30 miles from it. Once we got inside, I had to use there restroom but it had an out of order sign so i proceeded to walk across the street to the little bagel shop to use there's. Once I came back and got close to the trader joes entrance the Forest Acres police pulled up behind me and turned their siren on to get my attention. He got out of the vehicle and humiliated me stating that I was Panhandling and the management had called them to report me. I told him I was here with my mom and she was inside and we game to check it out. He asked to see my ID and when I went to get my wallet he grabbed for his gun and yelled, what are you doing get your hands up. Once he allowed me to get my ID he then asked me why I was there. He said why would anyone drive here 30 miles from home. His partner said let me go in and talk to the manager and he proceeded inside. At this point im totally humiliated and everyone is staring at me like a criminal. When his partner comes back out, he states to him that i'm here with my mom and then looks at me and says lets go inside and find your mommy. Keep in mind at that time I was 47 years old and have a job that as of now have been at for 26 years and even back then made 87,000 a year. Once they left the management and staff acted all weird and like they just wanted us out of there. I have never been so humiliated and never been back in one of their stores. This whole thing was totally uncalled for and their managers are idiots and harass there paying customers read more

Came here on a Saturday after lunch and the parking gets filled fast!. But in a100+degrees day it was cool inside and not as full as it appeared outside. Only needed a few things but the staff was very helpful and friendly. Many sale item but my goal was 20 items max. Wish that I had one Neary house but when I'm in Columbia I would stop by here. read more

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Trader Joes is my spot. Thankfully I don't live too far from here so its my go to market for certain vegetables (I'm seldom able to make it out to farmers markets in Cola), breads, vegetarian items and more. Most everything is very fresh and well-stocked, and the layout is smart and non-confusing (cannot say the same for other area markets). The staff is also very genial, and make the checkout experience easy. I also love that they always have cart wipes available. Biiig plus for me. read more

I went to Trader Joe's while back home in Maryland for a visit. The nearest one in my new area is an hour away. It was clean just didn't have the items I wanted in stock read more

I walked in and the store was very clean. The atmosphere was nice, quiet, and positive. Good prices! Two workers noticed that it was my first time shopping there and welcomed me to the "Trader Joe's" family and gave me a free shopping bag and free bag of candy. Super sweet! I definitely plan on shopping there more in the future! read more

I love Trader Joe's! this store is conveniently located off of Forest Drive. I make it here maybe once a month. Parking can be a little congested but with a little patience you'll find one. I absolutely love their assortment of fresh flowers and plants. The store is extremely clean and inviting and the associates are always willing to help and go above and beyond they have an amazing produce selection and unique products. read more

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Different city, same great customer service, especially the Cashiers. There were two downsides to my visit. First, the scarce of fruit selections was surprising as my go to Apples & Avocados were only offered in bundles. & the pink "sweet" grapefruit was my other disappointment as the two I bought were tremendously dried out. The flip & good side, was that I came across a new bottle of Vino (or should I say three) in the wine department...from Embrazen winery, in which the Res Blend is inspired by & representing Josephine Baker. From their website: Audacious in character, this nuanced, revolutionary Red Blend is bright, intense and perfectly suited for those as bold as their wine. Irreverent hints of mocha & spice lend depth to nuanced layers of ripe red fruit, while silky tannins linger on the palate. The wine is great & all for $3.99 a bottle. This store seems a little smaller in a tidy, compact manner. The parking lot is grid lock with courteous drivers. As always, bold & colorful t-shirts happily wandering around to lend a happy hand of assistance. read more

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What is there to say about TJ's that hasn't been said except "Why doesn't Augusta get it's own Trader Joe's? We make the drive to Columbia from Augusta every 3 months or so. It's a fun place to shop. It's produce and meat are not the draw here but we love so many of the Trader Joe's branded products! This time we took my niece Katie and our friend Arin, both of whom had never been. Being a vegetarian, Arin was happy to find canned jackfruit. Katie said she was surprised by the low prices and was pleased to find chocolate drizzled plantain chips. They both agreed that it was fun. Our cashier was Will who's line we always try to get in. He is such a friendly and charming guy! If you've never been to a Trader Joe's you should try it. I know it's owned by ALDI, and I like ALDI, but TJ's is a different experience that everyone should try it at less once. read more

It's Trader Joe's. Nothing could ever go wrong here. I come here for therapy grocery shopping and Trader Joe's cures all the problems in the world. Staff is always nice and the check-out line always goes really fast, despite all the constant traffic in the store. Some of my favorite products are: -shiitake mushroom and chicken with veggies (green beans and edamame): SUPER umami flavor, very filling with rice -mango and cream bars: the ultimate mango flavor you can have year-round, it kind of threw me off since it really is a bar and doesn't come on a stick -ice cream bonbons: chocolate covered ice cream on a chocolate cookie crust, SO GOOD! -milk chocolate caramel crunch medallions: crunchy, sweet, caramel-y -pecan pralines: buttery and sweet, crispy and crunchy -frozen crushed ginger: super versatile for cooking Asian dishes -thai tea mini mochi: super authentic flavor in a little bite read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Anytime we're in the Columbia area, we make it a point to stop and stock up. Why wait until we're in South Carolina? Thanks for asking! We live in a barren wasteland, a food desert with (gasp) no Trader Joe's. Also, you can't just order online and have it shipped. I'm sure it keeps the costs down and incrementally increases its "cult-like" status. Kudos Trader Joe/José/Giuseppe, mission accomplished. What's the hype?! I'll explain but you really need to go! They have a large selection of produce that is fresh and affordable. If you need an item that's too "exotic" for your average grocery store, they will more than likely have it here. The same goes for ingredients like saffron, tahini, coconut milk, etc. that usually costs an arm and a leg and is obscurely placed in the "ethnic" section on the lowest shelf. Moving along, I love the large selection of plants, flowers, herbs and succulents. They are affordable, healthy and makes a great gift for yourself and others. Trader Joe's has a large bakery selection too with all kinds of breads, pastries (their scones are delicious) and cakes. You want coffee? They got coffee! You want biscotti? They got biscotti! You want Swedish Fish? Get yourself some Scandinavian Swimmers, which are way better btw. You want dried fruits and nuts? Do it up buttercup! They have fabulous beauty products and a huge array of wines, beers...adult beverages, you feel me?! The bottom line: the food is delicious, fresh, seasonal and affordable. They generally have food samples and hot coffee available but that has changed with coronavirus. If you need a recommendation find someone in a Hawaiian shirt and sporting a kind smile...they'll be a great resource! Honestly, you could even ask a fellow shopper, they'd be happy to rave about their favorites and they're generally quite knowledgeable about all things Trader Joe's. I enjoy their clever and kitschy marketing, I have a small collection of their reusable bags. They make me smile because they're pretty, durable and wonderfully incorporates local cultural touchstones. If my daughter is with me, the cashier will share a generous amount of stickers with her. It's always a special treat when we come, I highly recommend it!!! A few of my favorites: Ginger Almond & Cashew Granola Cereal Cowboy Caviar Salsa (no fish eggs but corn) Blue Corn Tortilla Chips Carrot Turmeric Juice Miso Ginger Broth Rose Face Mist Anything Tea Tree/Rosemary/Mint in the beauty section read more

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Great customer service, friendly staff, clean, and tasty samples thru out the store! I love shopping here due the specialty foods and different healthier choices. Prices are fair. Love the concept and gives Columbia a big city feel when it comes to variety. I will be shopping here for yrs to come! read more

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The only bad thing about Trader Joe's is there is no where to park most days because everyone in Forest Acres is shopping here especially on weekends. I've found so many new combinations of chips and spices and practical every food item. The lines move extremely fast with friendly service every visit. Love this place !!! read more

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Love shopping here, I get "Costco syndrome" and spend way too much but love the products once I get them home (if they last that long. Great snacks and fresh produce, love the pricing methodology for fruit and vegetables. Staff is helpful, friendly and sometimes quite unusual. A fun shopping experience that satisfies you and puts quality items in your life. read more

Love this place! The unique selection of snacks keeps me coming back! It is always clean and the service is good.

Ohhhhh Trader Joe's...I feel that someone somewhere has written a song about you by now. The wine and produce selections are never disappointing, and there's always something new for me to try. If ever (like that one time) I'm looking a little lost or frustrated because I can't find that ONE item I saw in the flyer, a smiling employee approaches and offers guidance. Now the parking does get a little crazy sometimes. The logistics of maneuvering around people who created their own parking spaces instead of waiting can become a little dangerous. But that's no fault of Trader Joe's as there are plenty of spaces, it's just located in a very busy area. read more

Trader Joe's - Fall bouquets - Grocery Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

We haven't been to the zoo in a while, and when we do go, we always stop by TJ's as it's the closest one to us. Parking, yikes. Every time we go, finding a spot is always o struggle. The lot is a decent size, don't get me wrong, but their popularity leaves you circling the lot for a bit if you aren't so lucky. When we entered, we grabbed a cart for toddlers and because I'm a sucker, I couldn't pass up a beautiful bundle of flowers. They're always so reasonably priced, vibrant, and ample. My kiddo's favorite part is picking a bundle, and today we got sunflowers. Close by is a little sampling area with one or two of their featured products, as well as a small station for complimentary cups of coffee. Today they had pumpkin cheesecake, and it was ridiculously smooth. I don't LOVE pumpkin, but I was left questioning my views on pumpkin goodies after my sampling. Got a tip from the lovely associate to add some of their crushed cinnamon cookies and their caramel on top to really dress it up. Go big or go home, right? They actually have an alcohol section here, which was a new one for me. We built our own 6 pack, and we're waiting to try those out. Really glad we have the option though. Can't wait to see what the next visit has in store for us. read more

I only get to come here when I go to my doctors appointment but it has quickly become a interest of mine to make sure I stop they have a lovely variety of pre-cut vegetables that I like to indulge in read more

I love Emeryville's wonderful Trader Joe's! They have great food, good prices and kind people who work there!

It took me a minute to fall in love with TJs but I'm so glad It finally happened. I visit this location weekly and if it's after 4pm The parking lot is going to be packed. As in making your own parking spot. The staff is friendly, the prices are more than fair, and the food whether frozen or fresh is always delicious read more

Sadly, I recently I returned home to Columbia, SC to say my goodbyes to my grandfather and was surprised to see that Trader Joe's had a location here. I quickly called my wife to let her know and, without hesitation, I received a "request list". Being from Hawaii, the expectation is that EVERYONE gets a gift upon your return from your trip, making Trader Joe's the ideal gift shop. First on the list: yogurt covered anything. My girls like the yogurt stars (cookies). The adults like the yogurt covered fruit. Next, all kinds of snacks: mini chocolate chip cookies, ginger snaps, lemon crisps, english toffee, dried fruit, HUGE bars of chocolate, and, of course, the sugar free chocolates are a HUGE favorite with the Aunties at home. Our new favorite: cookie butter!!! Imagine a cookie (different flavors of cookies) smashed up and made into a yummy, spreadable form. *** TIP: If you buy the cookie butter, you need to put it in your checked bag. TSA will confiscate it if it's in your carry on. As the guy at the Trader Joe's checkout said, "TSA has more cookie butter than the state of Hawaii." :-( *** TIP2: DO NOT PACK anything chocolate in your check-in luggage during the summer. You'll get your gifts back as a huge lump of chocogunk after sitting and melting on the tarmac. Anyway, this Trader Joe's store was: + Easy to find. + VERY large. + Lots of selection. + Staff was VERY friendly. read more

I love this place! To me this place is like Target. I always go in and think I'm going to purchase one or two items and come out with a basket full. I love their selection of wines and cheeses. I also like to indulge in their vegetarian frozen food section. The store is easy to maneuver through and the staff members are always super helpful and have the nicest personalities. Prices are affordable. I wish there was more than one of them in Columbia. one of the items I purchased was dark chocolate covered almonds. They taste amazing. This was one of those at the register items. Those always get me. read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

We don't have a TJ in my town so we always stop by one when we can. I love finding the off the wall snacks that regular grocery stores don't have. The cashiers are polite and the store is always clean. I always snag a few plants when I'm there, too. read more

Stopped by here on my way home yesterday. I had to stop to grab me some dried mango. The parking lot is huge. I like the way it is set up too. A lot of parking spaces available on both sides. We walked in and there was so many people in here. This store is filled with Trader Joe's products and most that I have tried are amazing! Their cookie butter and almond butter is Ah-Mazing! After strolling the aisles for a moment, I came across the dried fruit and I grabbed my bag and I headed to the register. I was greeted by the cashier who asked if I wanted a bag for my item, I told him no and I paid....we left out. This store is great and not expensive at all. I enjoy this store and the location and have been here a few times before and will continue coming. read more

If all businesses, companies, organizations dealt with Covid 19 like Trader Joe's has this would have been over in November of last year. That's it. That's the review. read more

Great place to pick up all the little extras you need in life. Everything here is awesome. Best wine prices in the area. I could dive into a jar of Cookie Butter any day. Great produce, flowers, meats and samples. The fast frozen food section is a great time as well. Kosher, humanely slaughtered meat at reasonable prices, huge selection of cheese, vegan and vegetarian options are abundant. It's always a joy to go into this Trader Joe's. The staff is excellent and there are always plenty of them. I love their health and beauty section for great prices on skin care products. The customize able beer 6-pack is a lot of fun. I stop into TJ's probably once a week to just see what is new. I can't imagine Columbia with out them. read more

These people just nail it, from customer service to how they've handled Covid. Always warm welcomes from people who seem to enjoy being there. What can you even say about the products? If you know what to buy, you can make out like a bandit with some awesome quality items. The seasonings are all must haves and are $3. Even the hygiene products are great, I'm using their Oatmeal Exfoliant Almond Ginger bar soap. It's a huge (8.8oz) milled bar that smells fantastic and has an almost luxurious feel to the lather. Oh, and $3. Bar none, my favorite store in the world! read more

Trader Joe's - Grocery Near Me - Columbia, South Carolina

Shopping at Trader Joe's is like a mini vacation. Finding articles you remember from traveling far away. They have a wonderful variety in frozen foods, like nowhere else. The flowers and plants for very reasonable prices and a large selection. They beat any other supermarket. read more

Great place to shop. They have everything you could need and it's all fresh. Great produce, flowers, meats, cheeses..... It's all good. Friendly employees that are actually knowledgeable about the products. Try the goat cheese with blueberries! It's addicting! read more

I love this location. It's about a 40 min drive for me so we only go once a month, but I swear they know us every time we go. They're always so helpful and giving. They have amazing samples and it's so fun to hunt down the giraffes for my kids to get a lollipop at the front of the store. My go to items are always produce, ground beef, ribeye steak, lemon spatchcock chicken, mandarin orange chicken, vegetable stir fry riced cauliflower, haricots verts, cheese enchiladas, frozen Mac n cheese, frozen pepperoni pizza Mac n cheese, unexpected cheddar cheese, hot and sweet jalapeños, pepper jelly, and wine!!! read more