PCC=local, Ballard Market=local, farmers market=local,Greenwood Market=local, Ken's Market= local... I know it isn't practical to shop at these places all the time and for everything, but don't tell me that you can't find the same things at these places that you find at TJ's. And as for TJ's being cheap, I don't think it is as cheap as you think, if you compare I think some of the local markets will compare pretty favorably. But hey, if you want to support a huge German retail monster, feel free. I know anything I say here won't make any difference anyway.

Safeway is not "A Local Business"...neither is QFC...we have to buy groceries somewhere. I am all for supporting local business, and I try to do so as much as possible. But there are times when it is NOT possible, no matter how much we wish it was.

What makes it worse are the cheesy murals of Ballard landmarks painted in the store. Sunset Bowl was gone for months before they opened, how much of a connection can there be? They are trying to evoke a local feel because they think it will make people more comfortable selling out local businesses.

I love Trader Joes, but will not shop there. THIS IS NOT A LOCAL BUSINESS and therefore we should not support it! They have a lot of corporate policies that prohibit them from supporting our community. For example, we wanted to post a notice about a charity concert we were promoting and the nice store manager said that he could not post the notice as he would have to get corporate approval. This is just plain wrong as we are all supporting this place.

I think the new TJs is just fine. I agree with some posters that it was too crowded initially. However, later in the week the crowds were down and it was quite pleasant to shop there and the staff were cheerful.

It carries some interesting frozen foods at pretty reasonable prices that I don't find elsewhere and the cookie selection is awesome!

We need to encourage them to carry more local products, however.

I do wish the folks who don't like Mars Hill and homeless people would take their discussion to another thread.

Hi Mondo. *waves*

I agree, I see the guys selling Real Change outside of Safeway, but haven't had any homeless person hit me up for money there.

That said, I love TJ's, and always have. They will get more of my business than Safeway ever has. It's walkable so I don't have to mess with crazy driving or parking situations...though I will have to watch for getting hit, apparently. Traffic is pretty snarled for those exiting the Ballard Bridge there.

Madison and clampster - agree 100%.

People, please be careful on NW Ballard Way! I've been taking this exit off Ballard Bridge for ~5 years but in the last week it's got crazy. I've had pedestrians dart out in front of me, cars pull out of the parking garage and not look/be able to see left and a cyclist with a deathwish ride the wrong way up the street.

I'm sure traffic will calm down as people adapt - I'm not taking that exit anymore - but everyone please be careful because that is anything but a quiet street now!

Please Holz, You're killing me.

In these very comments they've been called a cult, criminals, and dangerous. Are you telling me that you think it's because of parking? Reading must not be your strong point.

PS> Keep talking, I'm feeling the love.

lefty, is that your mom telling you to come up from the basement for dinner?

hilarious. no one is saying they "hate, hate, hate" mars hill. the comment directly above you stated that there was added congestion due to TJ and traffic associated w/ the church.

It was odd.. went on sunday with a friend they had a police (?) guy directing traffic on the "church" side & lines/wait to get into the parking garage. But on the "lake" side.. nada. No wait no lines, no cop, just zip right in.

The line although it was pretty long... still didnt even take very long, very smooth and went pretty fast considering how many people were waiting.

I to need to go back on some day this week and pick up some of the things I didnt have room (or enough arms)to carry on the first day (and were sold out on sunday).

All of you good tolerant folks screaming HATE HATE, HATE, about the Mars Hill Church should stand in front of the mirror while doing it. That way you'd get a good picture of what real hate looks like.

I bet that first exit after the bridge is going to get worse, especially when there are a few buses waiting to get off. It's convenient for me to leave and enter from the south entrance, but trying to get to Fred Meyer was dicey over the weekend. And try walking to Cash & Carry without either getting hit by an inattentive driver, or a cigarette butt thrown by the people smoking in the loading dock beside Trader Joe's.

However, it's only Day 4, and I know they'll figure it out. I'm just so glad to have a TJ's, and that this garage has no dark corners like Roosevelt.

Oops, I meant "cross Market St.", not 24th.

My TJ's experience....

Went on opening day despite the lines but I had to get a few things I was out of and it wasn't too bad, about 15 minutes in line.
Decided to come back later in the weekend when the crowds were thinner for a few other items but they were so packed on Sunday afternoon that I left and drove up to the QA store. They too were packed to the rafters so I left feeling pretty frustrated that trying to shop at a new store in my neighborhood was already close to impossible. The surrounding traffic from the Ernst Church was pretty bad and some drivers were doing some pretty dumb things to get out of the congestion. The city will have to put in a light and turn signal at 14th AND the worst thing was that traffic was backing up onto the offramp from the Ballard bridge. That is potentially a very very bad situation that will cause accidents and even more pissed off drivers. The traffic has gotten so bad on those back streets behind TJ's up to 24th and Market that I've had to find a new route home where I don't have to wait for the light to change 3-4 times before I get my turn to cross 24th. Luckily I am building a small blimp in my garage so I can float above the traffic and get paid to advertise on the side of it.

Carrie...

Coffee sometime?

I'm sure when you called them "The Church Of Ernst Hardware" you were only expressing your love and caring. Thanks for showing your values.

Lefty

i never said i hated them, you inferred that i did. i was merely making an observation.

i tagged along to mars hill w/ a close friend that was trying to find a new church and didn't want to go alone. the sermon was pretty divisive, bigoted and sexist and my friend was almost as appalled as i was.

three values i don't have, so no, i'm nothing like them, as you put it.

I wonder the same Mondo. I am at Safeway at least 5 times a week and have never once been asked for change.

So Holz

You show your values by hating them? Kind of makes you the same doesn't it.

BHO, just curious, what time of day are you shopping that you get hit up by bums all the time at Safeway? I certainly see bums around, but so far I haven't been approached by any there. Maybe my goatee is too scary for them?

I agree with Smith's general impression of "bigger but less" at this TJs. They do have the excellent Bruschetta and the pretty-reasonably-priced fresh-squeezed OJ, so I'll be back.

lefty,

if hatred is a value, then yes, the church of ernst hardware has values...

Luckily Trader Joes hasn't yet been infested with the bums that infest the block around Safeway. The Real Change guy was there but I don't mind that as much. Some of the camper colony nearby seems to have moved too, so that's GREAT!

Now back to TJ's, this is a nice one with plenty of parking! I can walk to it, so that's a plus. I'm sure I'll be going to Trader Joes a lot more now that I can walk to it, and don't need to drive to QA or the U District.

Big deal, I like a store where security asks panhandlers not to beg at the doors. That is not being a lunatic, it's called not wanting to have my shopping experience ruined with drama as I walk in and as I walk out. Safeway is a hassle every time, so I dont go there and go to Trader Joes now. If you love transients so much, go to Safeway

Back to shopping at TJs and first impressions...it is bigger than than TJs I am accustomed to, so maybe that's why, but it seemed like it didn't have as much stuff in it. I'll go back again after the hoopla dies down and they reach more of an equilibrium...

Well Ballard Guy I would say my tolerance level is about the same for the NorthFace bike shorts crowd AND lunatic helicopter man. I see little difference. That level btw is fairly high since both are also somewhat entertaining.

>>>> The mecca of tolerance and diversity.

They are tolerant if you are politically correct.

Let's review

You hate the church for well, being a church and having values.

You hate Trader Joe's for well, being a chain store and (gasp), being owned by a German.

Hate hate those who shop there for well, shopping there.

I love Ballard. The mecca of tolerance and diversity.

Fond memories of shopping with my Mom at TJs in L.A. some 25 years ago. Glad to see Ballard is finally getting their groove on.

Well Magali maybe I will. I will pack up my well worn Ballard Market bag and go home. Don't get me wrong TJ's is fine, they do serve a purpose. But I simply don't understand why people are so whipped into a lather over this one. It is a chain, I don't think this many people were this excited when the latest Starbucks, or Jack in the Box opened.
And the dangerous transient comments are just stupid. We live in a big city and there are homeless people, deal with it, or don't, I guess it is your choice.

I actually went up to the Roosevelt store this morning. I will avoid the new place until the thrill is gone. I usually go about once a month and spend maybe $50. Since I will be driving right by the Ballard store on the way home each night I may stop more often but I doubt I will spend any more. Really what they sell is fast food. Sometimes I do want fast food.

Well, scottg, you can pack your toys up in an environment-friendly cloth sack and go home.

I have a great idea, if you want a transient free store move out of the city. I still don't see what the big damn deal is. It isn't like Trader Joe's is new, there has been one on Queen Ann for almost 10 years now. And I haven't found their prices to be a lot lower than anyone else on a lot of stuff, good sale prices but so does everyone else. And if I hear any more about 2 buck chuck I think I'm going to puke. It is cheap wine, great, but come on it tastes like it.

As long as they dont allow dangerous transients to hang outside the doors and in the parking lot, which is the case at Safeway on Market street, I will shop only at Trader Joes. Please, one transient free store in Ballard is all I ask for....

For those of you without a knowledge of Seattle history, Ernst was a local chain of hardware stores started in the 1890s. They went bankrupt in the late 1990s. Mars Hill Church, across from TJ's was an Ernst store, hence the "Church of Ernst Hardware" reference.

When I went to interview with them I asked if they were going to have more or different products than the other stores. They said no, that they would just have more stock on the shelves. Thats what the manager I interviewed with told me anyway. But I also thought that i noticed different products than at the udist store, so who knows.

Seattle Richardson: In my perception, there was definitely a wider variety of food than what is at the TJ's Queen Anne, but I am not exactly a TJ's expert so maybe someone else will weigh in.

I love TJ's the store is great, the staff awesome, loved everything!

For those who were asking about bike racks, here's a photo of the racks (looking north from the middle of the complex with Trader Joe's bright windows toward the right rear).
[IMG]http://i41.tinypic.com/2yx2lbn.jpg[/IMG]

Plenty of free parking in the car camping colony next door, or the cult parking lot on the other side.

That lot used to be a Superfund site, contaminated by years of automotive wastes I think, cost a fortune to dig it down x # of feet to remove the contaminated soil.

@22
So, why is German ownership a problem? I must be missing something; I alwas do!

Does anyone know if this TJ's carries more items or is it just a bigger footprint?

I was there late this afternoon. I didn't realize this was the first day! It was jam-packed, checkout lines extending all the way to the middle of the enormous store. The only Trader Joe's I've ever been in was the tiny one in Queen Anne. This was really impressive, and I am so happy there is ample free parking. The checkout people all seemed smiling and happy.

mr and ms holz used to shop at aldi süd all the time.

and we're happy to shop @ trader hoe's. i always thought there was a connection.

also, aldi isn't the "euro-wal mart " as wal mart is already in europe (w/ double and triple stacked stores)

SDOT will need to do something about the traffic that backs up on 14th and ballard. it was hilarious watching the cars backed up 3 blocks before rush hour even hit.

On which aisle do they keep the "Chuck"?!

I can't wait for the prostitutes to come down here from Aurora, so's I can pick me up a TJ Hooker.

Its just a grocery store.....

As a bicyclist, I can tell this is trouble already. Lots more cars along the 'missing link' of the burke gilman trail. It's clear that the clientele of Trader Joe's (people in a hurry looking for a shortcut) doesn't mix well with bikers.

and what's with the homeless encampment across the street under the bridge? are those "divers in training"?

copied from comment at
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/1...

Addendum:
Tader’s Joe is owned by a family trust of Theo Albrecht (Aldi North). But the over thousand regular Aldi stores in the USA belong to his brother Karl (Aldi South).

So Aldi and Trader’s Joe have no legal ties in the US and are two competing chains in the US.
— Tyler

boaty@20,

The lot across the street is the future home of Ballard Blocks II. Check out the Ballard News-Tribune site for more info.

Man all the haters got on today! Here is what they have to say
1) Religion (that you don't agree with or in general) is bad.
2) You can't buy at Trader Joe's because it is owned by the same company who owns the apparent Euro-Walmart.
3)Some dbag likening grocery shopping to a hipster activity.

A cheap store opened in Ballard guys - just go shop. I love Ballard Market but they are in trouble if they don't lower their prices a bit!

mommad-

no need to leave ballard if you think about it. ;p

Just got back home. Wow people were buying like the store was only open for one day! It took 24 minutes to check out the wee basket. Lots of very full grocery carts. Be sure to have comfortable shoes on when you go.

"Posting a video seems pretty unnecessary."

Speak for yourself. I was in the video, and it's my almost-a-second of fame.

“Consume consume consume hipsters!”

Uh...did you see the video?

The fact that it is owned by Euro-Walmart makes me sad. :(

I think we lucked out with a parking garage associated with a TJs that you can actually get in and out of without serious potential for a wreck. If I can help it, I plan to never visit the U-district TJs again. Woohoo!
Great store, but I didn't buy anything when I went over around noon - INSANE lines. I wonder how long before it settles down.

Nothing but grumpy old Scandos at Ballard Market now?

The sun is out, TJ's is here...life is good and no one can ruin that for me today!

I liked the video...all the fun of being there without the crowds!

Lighten up people, its Friday, the sun is out and we have a cool new place to get tasty food.

And the people who write this blog put lots of effort into getting photos and video and I appreciate it.

The snarks are out again today. If you aren't excited about TJ opening today, then why do you bother reading the posting and taking the time to make a snarky comment? Get over yourselves.

hey...look at that..people walking into a store!

Posting a video seems pretty unnecessary.

Sweet deal on the free stuff, Reba! I got there some time between 8:30 and 8:45 - kinda figured I wouldn't be first!

"Consume consume consume hipsters!"

You don't eat? That must be handy.

I got the pin and the groceries cause I was the first one there at 8:15 this morning. The manager came out and met me and thanked me and handed me the pin. After the doors opened I wandered abotu and he walked up to me and says "here you go, thank you for being our first customer"
It had a big bar of chocolate, juice, trail mix, maple syrup and a whole lot more.. I bet like 40$ worth of groceries.

It may be "just a grocery store", but it is a GREAT grocery store. If only we had a Grocery Outlet there too, then I'd never need to leave Ballard.

Consume consume consume hipsters!

Seriously...its just a grocery store.

i'm headed there after work today. i can't wait!!

RebA, how did you get all the free stuff? I must have missed it!

Does anyone know why my comment is gone? I only asked a simple question...

Anyway, I am stoked about Trader Joes too! I can't wait to check it out!

If heaven is where his congregation is headed...please please please please dont let me in

I agree, RebA. I have a friend who has worked in the grocery business for years and loves that he is now managing a TJs in San Diego. He has nothing but good things to say about the company.

I agree RebA, my bubble is not burst. Who cares, it's owned by a German Trust and headquartered in California. Germans made my car, they can sell me cheap wine.

So what that some german company owns it.. the employees are friendly and helpful, the products are good, most are natural/organic/whatever earth friendly type stuff. They employees get great benefits and more than minimum wage and are treated well.

I know, it's frightening! I want everyone to read it...

For the curious, here it is again...

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2006/09/13/rig...

Zipper.....Now that is a truly scarey article. Didnt someone named hitler believe in strict adherence to doctrine and the breeding of future believers?

I love the name Church of Ernst Hardware! Nice jm.

Mr.Lakreitz was a huge Ernst fan - especially that unconditional money back guarantee. We still haven't gotten over having to drive all the way to HomeDepot on Aurora. I remember when the place went 'Chick' and started carrying pillows and picture frames. It was obvious they were doomed from that time forward.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but...

http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/1...

Hi -- I was talking to you while the pirates drove up. I missed the free tote bag, though... too distracted by the pristine, un-picked-over aisles.

what's with that lake across the street (currently fenced in)? it appears there is a ramp for boat access. anyone know if TJ's will be renting paddleboats?

I agree ... "The Church of Ernst Hardware" made me spit up my coffee!! Ernst was one of the first places I went to when I moved to Seattle in '94! And I've been waiting for a TJs in the hood all that time, too. Whooooo ... I'm heading over!!

I went this morning. It was very crowded, but that is a good sign.

It is so nice to have a TJ's in Ballard now... no more Udistrict, God I hated going to that one....

Also, who doesnt love pirates? I kissed one on the cheek and got a button!

They were open by the time I got there, so I missed the festivities (I'm not a pirate person). The cashier told me that there was a little girl in the crowd waiting with her Mom, and when the pirates arrived, she ran to the glass doors, frantically banging on them and crying to be let in.

The aisles are the widest of any local TJ's (although the "business aisle", with the oils & beans & sauces, was completely clogged). Some of the veggies didn't perfectly fresh, but most were fine. I bypassed the crowded snack station, and the coffee sample was their French roast, which I've only made the mistake of tasting once.

It's a very nice store, and yes, the parking spots are teeny, but at least there are lots of them. The staff that I talked to seemed very helpful, and happy to be there.

I hope they'll hire security guards to keep patrons of Church Of Ernst Hardware/Church of Doc Freeman's away on Sundays.

Just finished walking home.. i posted in the other TJ's thread.. I got a pin that says #1 Customer and a free bag of groceries. So Awesome!

Everyone also gets a free white reusable bag too. I cant wait for it to settle down and I can really peruse all the goods in that store. But I got in and got out with the stuff on my list, in pretty short order.

Thanks Cathy! I'm about to find out how many bottles of wine will fit in a pannier...

I was wondering what the Seafair Pirates were doing this morning.

how's parking?

And it's so much bigger than the QA store - I loved it!!

Yes, there's a large bike rack in the parking garage (and people using it already!)

I was there at 8:30, in time to see the pirates, and was one of the first into the store. I hope they do well there -- I was tired of going all the way to the U-district one.

Total Cult!

Thank you JM, you made my day with the church of Ernst Hardware. I still miss Ernst Hardware...and Pay'n Save.

Check out this article about said church....

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2006/09/13/rig...

BAck to TJs, anyone been there and seen a bike rack?

what's happened in the past with the "church of ernst hardware"? i'm newer to ballard and don't know the story. curious though!

jm - "Church of Ernst Hardware"

You made my day! ;-)

hope that church goes to the dogs, still have yet to forgive them for closing the Paradox

Oh..you mean the church of "Pluto Valley"...yes, I'm sure they would shun the worshippers of "all things Carbohydrate".

Maybe things will chill out a little at Ballard Market.

I hope it creates a problem for that cult...sorry "church". They've been obnoxious to the other local businesses around them.

This could make for an interesting traffic situation when the Church of Ernst Hardware has events.