The excitement surrounding the opening of Louisiana’s first Trader Joe’s store has been growing for weeks. Trader Joe’s, the specialty-food chain from California, is known for its inexpensive organic food and products.
Baton Rouge Moms had the opportunity to attend the Grand Opening festivities, where Baton Rouge city officials, including Mayor Kip Holden, and Trader Joe’s representatives took part in the stores ribbon “lei” cutting ceremony.
Hawaiian-shirt-clad Crew Members were pumped and excited to greet their first customers. They cheered and gave out leis and high fives as we entered the store. This was one fun crew!
Trader Joe’s sells many items under its own private labels, at a significant discount to brand-name equivalents. Products sold include gourmet foods, organic foods, vegetarian foods, unusual frozen foods, imported foods, domestic and imported wine and beer, “alternative” food items, and staples like bread, cereal, eggs, dairy, coffee, and produce. Non-food items include personal hygiene products, household cleaners, vitamins, pet food, plants, and flowers. Trader Joe’s is the exclusive retailer of Charles Shaw wine, popularly known as Two Buck Chuck because of its $1.99 price tag in California. It sells for $2.99 here in Baton Rouge.
Crew-memebers are also empowered to open anything you want to try, so if you’re on the fence about a product, just ask. If you buy something and don’t like it, you can also bring it back, as stated on the, cutest ever, sign over the registers.
The Hawaiian theme and informative, handmade signs make for a fun shopping experience. Labels and signs creatively display information and describe Trader Joe’s products. The store is smaller than your average grocer and has an open layout making it very shopper friendly.
Want to learn more about Trader Joe’s and their products? Here are a few sites you might want to check out:
- What’s Good at Trader Joe’s – reviews
- Eating at Joe’s – reviews
- Club Trader Joe’s – reviews
- Money Saving Mom – Trader Joe’s weekly deals
Trader Joe’s is located in the Acadian Village Shopping Center near the brand new Galatoire’s Bistro Restaurant. Follow our local Trader Joe’s on Facebook!
I think we are going tomorrow! I can’t wait to check it out. I don’t think I’ve ever been inside of a TJ’s before.
I have heard about Traders Joe they have one I think in Atlanta but I have yet to go it’s far from me. They look like an Aldi but I have heard people have certain things they like from there that you can’t get anyplace else.
Jealous!! Our closest is something like 40 minutes away so we don’t get to go very often but I’m thinking we’re due for a trip soon!
I have never been to Trader Joes and we have one in my city. I really need to go check it out, I’m sure I’d love it.
The closest to me is in Buckhead. I’ve been once and enjoyed it, but it’s a bit far for me to go on a regular basis.
i love trader joe’s – we don’t have one super close, it’s about 45 minutes so i’m rarely there. i keep hoping they open one closer very very soon
Oh how I miss Trader Joes. We had one close to us in FL. Not one near us in GA, maybe one will come to Augusta soon.
I wish I lived closer to a Trader Joe’s! I have never visited one but from what I have read/heard, it’s a great place to go for groceries. I love that they offer hassle-free refunds.
I still haven’t been to a Trader Joes. It always looks so awesome! And, now I want some apple cider.
Wow. It looks like everyone was having a really good time. I keep hearing such great things about Trader Joe’s. It’s great to see one in Louisiana.
Very fun! I wish I could have been there with you – sure miss our fun chats.
This looks like an incredibly fun place to shop!
It looks fantastic! I love Trader Joe’s and wish we had one closer.
We love Trader Joes and shop their on a monthly basis. We’d go more often but it’s a 45 minute drive. I’d be ecstatic if they opened one closer to me!
I wish I had a Trader Joes that was closer. They have some of the coolest stuff there.
I am a huge fan of Trader Joe’s and am happy to hear they are in your town! Their private labels items are such a great deal and the quality is amazing. Yay Trader Joe’s!
That’s an awesome policy with letting people try something or return something that didn’t work out.
I LOVE Trader Joe’s!! That looks like a fun grand opening!!
You look like you had a lot of fun!
Trader Joe’s is a really neat store. I am always satisfied with the selection and quality I find there.
I love Trader Joes. There are several in the Atlanta area. Only problem is, I end up leaving there with waaaaay more that what I went in for.
I love Trader Joe’s. The first one I have gone to was in San Francisco California, visiting my sister, and I loved it. I also shopped in Minnesota when visiting my daughter. If you have not shopped at TJ’s, Try it, after the first time, you will always go back. The quality of food you get for the price is awesome. I would always say, why is it not one in Louisiana? Now it is, but in Baton Rouge, well I guess that’s close enough (3hrs) away. I will make it a point to stop by there each time I’m in the city. So much to say, just try it!