The Day Trader Joe’s Opened in OKC!
Originally published September 23, 2016
This was written in 2016 while we lived in Oklahoma City.
Ever since we moved to Oklahoma I have missed Trader Joe’s. While living in California I shopped there weekly for most of our grocery needs. The place makes me happy. The cool graphics on the packages, the delicious food, and the super friendly staff make it so enjoyable. Did I mention the sample area (UPDATE: Suspended during COVID ☹️) with the tiny cup of free coffee? My happy place.
When we moved to Oklahoma I never thought the day would come that we would see a Trader Joe’s or that I would live 11 minutes from one. The liquor laws in Oklahoma are a bit archaic in that they limit the alcohol content that can be sold in a grocery store. For this reason, I didn’t think there was much hope of seeing one move in anytime soon.
Trader Joe’s is not perfect and I am bound to find disappointment in things like the bread getting moldy too fast, not being able to find cream of chicken soup (an Oklahoma staple), or just general disappointment at a frozen entree I was putting all my hopes in but in general, their stuff is amazing; it’s healthy, innovative, and mostly inexpensive.
One of the things I am looking forward to most is the feeling you get when you are enjoying your grocery shopping experience. I love that Trader Joe’s is always producing new products and always at the cutting edge of the food scene making it accessible to the budget-conscious consumer.
When living in California my food choices and how I fed my family really began to change. I know Trader Joe’s was a huge part of that transformation since having access to healthy food is half the battle. OKC has had Whole Foods for several years, but Trader Joe’s is different. It’s less posh and more for a common man but still hip. The price point at Whole Foods really pushes a lot of people out the door but I think most will be able to find affordable options at Trader Joe’s that will keep them coming back.
Other perks of Trader Joes:
- They promote reusable grocery bags and know how to properly bag your groceries.
- There’s a very thorough frequently asked questions page about their products. Which details their stance on no artificial flavors or preservatives, no MSG, no genetically modified ingredients, and no artificial trans-fats.
- So many amazing dessert options to take to dinner parties.
- Their picnic game is very strong.
- If you don’t like something bring it back for a refund.
- Holidays are highlighted at Trader Joe’s. So many great options to celebrate the seasons.
- They have cheap cut flowers. 🙂
- Their sample policy.
- Kids get stickers.
- You will start to feel like part of their community after shopping there for a while.
- I can’t express how well they do at hiring.
- You will be obsessed with a new item that you can’t stop thinking and talking about.
If you are interested to learn more about Trader Joe’s here is a book or you could listen to their podcast.
I’ll be there today on opening day. Are you planning to stop by?
UPDATE —
We made the newspaper while at the opening of Trader Joe’s in OKC! Dean and I can be spotted in The Oklahoman, Saturday, September 24, 2016 edition.
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If you purchase from a link on this blog a small percentage of the sale may come back to me. You are never charged more for the product. It’s a way to keep this site going and I’m very selective about the things I list. It’s mostly things we already own and love or things I think you would enjoy. Thank you for reading!
