Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Trader Joe's 14th Street East

I should have known more about this Trader Joe's on East 14th Street but I didn't..

Yelpers...like it but say it is too crowded and not big enough for busy Union Square area


Trader Joe's

3.5 star rating
672 reviews Rating Details
142 E 14th St
(between 4th Ave & Irving Pl)
New York, NY 10003
Neighborhoods: Gramercy, East Village
(212) 529-4612
Nearest Transit Station:
14 St. - Union Sq (4, 5, 6, 6X)
3 Ave. (L)
Union Sq - 14 St. (L)
Hours:
Mon-Sun 8 am - 10 pm
Price Range:
$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street, Private Lot
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
1.9 Miles from Trader Joe's
Vintry Fine Wines, located at 230 Murray Street in the pedestrian pathway, is bringing fine wine to New York City's revitalized downtown. With over 2,500… read more »

Review Highlights   What's this?

  • "7) It's a quick walk to Union Square." In 60 reviews
  • "Wish I knew the secret of how to beat the lines here." In 232 reviews
  • "The whole milk organic yogurt is the best I ever had." In 82 reviews
Show more review highlights
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672 reviews in English

  • Review from

    • 30 friends
    • 93 reviews
    Manhattan, NY
    8/5/2013
    I love Trader Joe's so much, but this can be a frustrating location to shop at. Why does it have to be so small?? If you go during the day on weekdays, the shopping experience and the lines are tolerable, but weekday afternoons and weekends are crazy. When the lines wrap around the store, it's difficult to even browse the aisles.

    That said, the prices and the items offered are unbeatable. So many delicious and affordable healthy options for snacks, quick meals, and produce. The clerks are always so friendly and helpful and will grab something for you if you are already in line. I love buying food here, and I really look forward to my loot that I come home with!
  • Review from

    • 83 friends
    • 268 reviews
    Berkeley, CA
    7/30/2013
    The absolute craziest grocery store I've ever been to: Not only does the check-out line wrap around the entire store at almost all times of the day, but if it they reach their maximum occupancy, you'll have to wait in line just to get into the store.

    Words of caution: Do not attempt to shop here alone, unless you come right after opening or right before closing. Bring a partner with you and as soon as you enter the store, have one of you wait in line, as the other leisurely makes his way around the store finding TJ essentials. And when I say "as soon as you enter" I mean it: The checkout line often begins at the door.

    On the bright side, the line moves quickly. There are like 40 registers and they're almost always all open (something you rarely ever see in any grocery store). But when you're waiting in a 100+ foot long line, it's still going to take some time. TJ seriously needs to expand this store or open another nearby to satiate all the NYU students in the area. If you just need to grab an item or two, save yourself some time and go to the Whole Foods down the street.
  • Review from

    Queens, NY
    Updated - 7/25/2013
    I have such a love hate relation with this TJs.

    Mostly because the checkout lines usually wrapped around the whole store.
    Specials will empty out quickly. They try to restock but space is very limited.

    I am temped to eat the food in my basket or I just put everything back and walk out.

    1 Previous Review: Show all »

    • 5/17/2012
      I usually shop at my local TJ in Queens because it is just more convenient and I heard so much… Read more »
  • Review from

    • 28 friends
    • 39 reviews
    New York, NY
    8/12/2013 1 check-in here
    A good place to shop.
    A little crazy, it seems like everyday.
  • Review from

    • 3 friends
    • 164 reviews
    Los Angeles, CA
    8/24/2013
    Was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I made it through the line that spanned the perimeter of the store, almost to the front door. Nice work!
  • Review from

    • 48 friends
    • 51 reviews
    East Village, Manhattan, NY
    7/17/2013
    Being from CA, I was so excited to move into my new apartment just around the corner from a TJs!

    Yes, the lines are intimidatingly long, but they move quickly and the savings are worth it. Seriously, I can buy a weeks worth of groceries here for $25- unbelievable in Manhattan. You also have to respect TJs for not raising their prices just because this location is in Manhattan (I'm talking to you Walgreens/ Whole Foods).

    I love their ready to cook meals (pasta, lasagna, sandwiches, etc) near the back of the store. Great for grabbing something easy after work and most of them are around $3-$5. TJs also has an excellent selection of convenient frozen fruits, vegetables, and ethnic foods.

    The best times to go to avoid the lines are 8:00 AM when they open or 9:30 PM just before closing. Pick the outside line and you can continue to grab dairy products, water and beer while waiting to check out. Pick the inside line for paper goods, tea and skincare products. Be aware that they often run out of popular items (especially produce) if you go at night.

    Finally, if you're from anywhere else in the country that has a TJs, don't expect to have the same relaxing shopping experience: there are no kids "find the parrot games" and very limited free samples. Nevertheless, great prices, great selection, and good customer service.
  • Review from

    Brooklyn, NY
    8/19/2013 1 check-in here
    I love Trader Joe's, but this location is maddening.  We walked in, then seeing the chaos, walked straight back out.  After realizing that we did, in fact, need groceries, we went in again.  Navigating the crowded aisles to find what we needed was quite an adventure.  Not the "oh what an adrenaline rush, I can't wait to do it again" type of adventure, but the "I am so happy to have made it out alive" type.  The two lines wrapped around the entire store.  They moved relatively quickly considering their length, but still 15-20 minutes in line at a grocery store is nonsense.  Seriously, there need to be at least 10 more Trader Joe's locations in this city.
  • Review from

    • 6 friends
    • 14 reviews
    Brooklyn, NY
    7/20/2013
    I don't think I can say anything about TJs that's hasn't been said so ill just reiterate the fact that its a gem in this expensive city.

    The frozen food is unbelievably tasty. Soy milk for $1.69? Yes please TJs.
    The staff is amazing for the most part. I actually blame them for half of the products that I'm addicted to. Cookie butter? more like crack in a jar.

    How can I forget that even the cheese (which we know is expensive) is cheap.

    The lines are long yes, but I gladly stand in them knowing that I'm saving so much money. I mean it's amazing what $50 will get you in this place.

    My only complaint is the fact that they haven't opened one in Williamsburg/Greenpoint yet.  Then I would live there every single day.
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 14 reviews
    New York, NY
    8/25/2013
    Trader Joe's is great, but this location is too crowded. Every time I go, there is a line to get into the store, which of course means the lines are quite long. If you only plan to get a few items, remember the line will be about 20 minutes. Other than the crowdedness, I love shopping there.
  • Review from

    Brooklyn, NY
    7/1/2013 1 check-in here
    Cons: Lines are ridiculously long. Like wrap-around-the-entire-perimeter-of-the-store-­half-an-hour-before-closing long. What people end up doing is getting on line and then picking up stuff that's on the way to checkout. Which can actually mean an additional 15-20 minutes of shopping time. Of course, the trade-off of going here late is that the produce shelves are pretty empty.

    Pros: It's Trader Joes. The quality of products available and the low prices are what you'd expect.
  • Review from

    • 0 friends
    • 3 reviews
    Manhattan, NY
    8/9/2013
    This store is perpetually crowded. However there are certain times of the day when it is easier to shop. Mid day around 2pm to 3pm there is usually a lull - not as crowded and the line not so bad. The food prices are excellent for NYC. I just wish the store were twice the size to accommodate the crowds.

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