Trader Joe's

I first came to know about Trader Joe’s through their product Chile Spiced Mango. I had also heard about their Cranberry Juice,not exactly tasty, but a very rich source of antioxidants. One day, we finally decided to visit the Trader Joe’s outlet in Colonie. It was raining, and on top of that, finding a parking spot was a real challenge. We had to circle around three times before getting one. The store was so crowded despite being quite small! Anyway, the fruits and vegetables seemed very fresh,though the Roma tomatoes didn’t look that great. I’ve heard most of their food items are organic, which I really liked. We bought some white potatoes, which were perfectly fresh, and also picked up spinach, squash, and cauliflower, all of which looked excellent. Their ice cream and cookie collection was impressive too, and they even had handmade soaps that would make lovely gifts.Amazingly they also have Medjool Dates. While checking out, one of the staff members kindly changed our cart because it didn’t have a basket. Their warm and friendly attitude was truly heartwarming.Honestly, I’d love to visit their store again just for that wonderful customer experience.

Always a treat! Great frozen apps for our Christmas fundraiser's spread. Shrimp and veggie on sugar cane was a winner! Parking is always a challenge, but definitely worth the effort.

Great value and seemingly real sourdough. They are one of the few stores still selling unsweetened soy milk. Although it's basically doubled in price it remains the best value versus Walmart or any other grocery chain in the region.

Wow I had never been to trader Joe's before but both my son and I were blown away! Not only did the quality of products exceed my expectations but the every employee we encountered were helpful, welcoming and genuinely seemed happy to be there and enjoyed their job! Also I was always under the impression that it was expensive to shop there, but the prices were very affordable and there were a ton of great items on sale! Definitely plan on coming back on a regular basis!

Enjoy grocery shopping here, prices are reasonable and you can find everything you're looking for. And customer service is amazing Before I moved to New York, I lived in the southwest area of the country, and had to make visits to Santa Fe and Albuquerque, to get my trader Joe's fix. But now I can visit any time. Which I am grateful for.The only thing I miss is it doesn't have an alcohol section, like the others, you could always find a good wine for a reasonable price.

Very nicely laid out. Popular, parking pretty filled up. Many items not available or easy to find near home. Started in meats that are vacuum sealed ready to cook to left side. Then to premade salad section. Many things on outer isles fit my list.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Trader Joe’s Albany is my happy place. You walk in for “just one thing” and walk out with a cart full of snacks you didn’t know existed but now can’t live without (looking at you, Everything but the Bagel seasoning and frozen orange chicken). The staff are ridiculously friendly—seriously, how are they all so cheerful? The store is clean, the lines move fast, and the sample station is like a tiny party. Shopping here feels less like a chore and more like a treasure hunt, and my freezer has never been so full of oddly amazing things.

The staff are lively and very friendly! The parking lot is a bit small, so you may have to wait a little while to park on busy weekends, but spaces tend to open up quickly, so it's not a problem. The visitors are also relaxed and friendly, so there's no need to worry.

It was a blessing to shop at a Trader Joe's near me in Hartsdale when I lived in Westchester for twenty some odd years. Now that my husband and I live in the Catskills, doing my weekend shopping in Hartsdale, isn't always a given. So when I searched high and low for a Trader Joe's, this Colonie, NY (Albany is like a hair away) popped up just shy of an hour from home. I'll take it. Not for nothing- while I love the Trader in Hartsdale, this location is the muvva of all muvvas: big aisles. I mean BIG. There were no: "ooh...excuse me", "sorry- my cart is too close to you", etc. Nothing like that. Navigating the aisles is super smooth here and forget about browsing, I had way more space and nobody breathing on me. In true Trader J. fashion, shelves are methodically stacked. The part I liked most about this location is that berries and other fridge items were fully stocked the Sunday my husband and I came here. Service is incredible all around and coming to this Trader J. was a totally comfortable shopping experience for me.

Trader Joe's is stepping it up these days especially if you love fresh produce. Much of it is seasonal. Some of it can be hard to find locally. A few weeks ago, I was surprised to find they were selling fresh lychees. I was skeptical. Lychees for sale and I'm not in Chinatown? They weren't quite ripe yet. I bought one carton. In hindsight, I should have bought at least two. Previously, I've only purchased lychees in any of NYC's Chinatowns and they were usually perfectly ripe or slightly past due. So I gave these new lychees a few days. They ripened and they were delicious. A week later the lychees were all gone but fresh figs were for sale. I haven't eaten figs in years so I snapped some up. There were some super ripe ones in the carton which I ate right away. Others are still ripening so I can enjoy them over time. When I went back a week later, the supply at the store has sold out. The small yellow watermelons were great, too. Now, there are varieties of Rainier or Queen Anne cherries available. They're almost always pricey no matter where you buy them. Trader Joe's gives you a choice. The larger variety costs a dollar more. I went for the smaller ones which were wonderful. I saved a dollar and since they're very ripe I'm going to turn some of them into jam. As always, the staff is friendly and very helpful. It's clean, inviting and well stocked. Thanks so much for making this summer more enjoyable and healthy with awesome varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Staff is always friendly and helpful, they keep the store will stocked, clean, and organized. Setup is typical of all Trader Joe's so if you've been to one then you know the layout.

Still a great store but I finally got someone to explain the weird alcohol policy. So apparently NYS only allows for the sale of alcohol in grocery stores if it's under 14% ABV. So the alcohol you'll find here is beer and very low alcohol wine. They also have plenty of NA beers and wines. You have to go to a separate liquor store for anything over 14% ABV.

Parking sucked as usual. Especially since it was prime shopping time Sunday afternoon. Human's become animals when trying to get in this place. It is crazy. Went in for a few items and walked out with a bunch. No surprise.

A great grocery store with lots of niche and exotic snack items to take on road trips, compostable "plastic" bags, craft beers, and a plethora of vegan friendly food items to grab. It is also a claustrophobic and rushed experience if you don't go on a weeknight or super early and I found the experience of shopping amidst tight aisles while frenzied shoppers hurried around and moshed their way towards their macaroons to give me the opposite of a chill experience while shopping there for my trip. The service is nice and friendly, there are some cool products I can't get in other places like gourmet Joe Joes (think Oreos with interesting coatings) and I like having them as an alternative to the big box grocery stores but I will not go there on weekends or early/lunch time because I find the experience stressful and anxiety inducing.

I'm from the Utica area. So, shopping here for groceries, isn't that convenient. I wish they were closer to me. Yes, more than some items cost a bit much, However, overall offers many items not found in a generic, typical, grocery/supermarket. So, I'm not going to hold it against them(as far as location and size), over things this one store has no control over. Their broader selection of items(of health food options), does stand out. I need to single out 'health food options', because overall, of general, Wegman's stands out(in broad general merchandise, even goods/merchandise, not found other places). It all depends what you are looking for. As far as the experience shopping at Trader Joe's, I am not that type of reviewer. It's a store. You go to buy something and leave. Whether or not you want a life changing event, or something that shudders the utter bane of your existence, is up to the individual. To solidify what was already said, they have more healthy options of groceries than other places. If you are looking for excitement and adventure beyond shopping, then I suggest you need to get out more.

Trader Joe's is a lifesaver especially with the high cost of food these days. Where else can you shop and find organic produce you can afford? Plus the customer service is smart and personable. As well as helpful and knowledgeable about their endless array of food options. Highly recommended!

It's difficult to believe I've never reviewed this Trader Joe's before. Probably because I originally started going here only to buy one product. Yes, that probably sounds strange, but they were the only retailer that sold an item that I regularly used and at a very fair price. Eventually, I heard about a second item that was supposed to be exceptional and indeed it was. Soon there was a third item and my wife discovered a fourth. Now, there are probably still not more than a dozen items that we regularly return for, but we do look at additional products and occasionally try something new. We have yet to be disappointed. The first major hurdle, however, was when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, occupancy was being limited and long lines of waiting shoppers formed outside. I did that twice and decided there had to be a better way. I do give them lots of credit for how they have handled the problems associated with the pandemic. Before you enter they give you the opportunity to disinfect your hands. They do not allow you to bring your own shopping bags into the store because they provide you with their own paper bags at no additional cost. They also disinfect every shopping cart after it is used so the one you pick to use is already safe. A more recent update to helping to maintain social distancing while checking out is the creation of a queue leading to all the checkout counters. This is a great improvement of shopping cart traffic at the front of the store. They also have a special hour on Wednesday and Sunday from 8AM to 9AM for seniors (age 60 and over) and customers with disabilities who may need extra assistance. One final suggestion. Don't go shopping around 7:30 pm. There doesn't seem to be a line of customers waiting to get in at that time and I've reserved that time for myself.

Customer service is very poor here. I was refused service at checkout because the cashier was "with another customer." Besides being rude, this behavior was ignorant because obviously as a cashier you will always be ringing people up all day. It's the reason people form a line. All I did was get in her line and she literally told me and my minor child to leave her line. I have never encountered such a disrespectful person in any store in decades of shopping. Trader Joe's staff are typically known for being friendly. I did report her to the manager and emailed corporate to alert them to the hostile cashier. Had I not been flabbergasted, I would have left the store and refused the purchase in response to being refused service. I'm disgusted and am writing this review to warn others. While I was there, I was helped by another very kind gentleman who heard me being turned away and came over to me to get my cart and bring it to his register. He's an angel and reminded me there's always good people in the world. I wish I knew his name. Whoever you are THANK YOU for having a heart.

Please Pleas bring Trader Joes to Pittsfield Mass.!!!!!! I have lived in LI, NY, SF C.A., and have always had a Trader Joes near by. My favorite grocery/ food store for 40 years! I moved to Pittsfield Mass. And that is no TJ near me. I have to travel over an hour into upstate NY to find one. Tanglewood is in Lenox, Lee and these are hot areas for TJ store. Loads of NY city folks come here all summer and winter. We need you here! You are first class! The absolute best food I have ever had! I invite you to the Berkshires!!!!

Well, after months and months of not buying the soup, I caved yesterday and got one clam chowder. Expiration date was 2/1/2021, but I suspect they meant 1/1/2021 and mislabeled again, because it was sour AF. A word of caution--if the expiration date seems too good to be true for a fresh not frozen soup, it probably is. I did reach out to TJ's just to let them know about the last two times this happened, and they said something like tell someone at the store and get a refund, which I did not feel the need/comfort to do. I just wanted to let them know so they would be more careful in the future. And yet, the one time I decide to buy soup again it happens again. Either I have terrible luck, or everyone should just stay away from the soups at this particular store. This is sad because I love TJs and generally have good experiences here. This string of mishaps with the soup make me question their other fresh prepared foods as well.

Five stars to Trader Joe's Colonie for its social distancing practices in the time of COVID-19. At noon on a Wednesday there were about a dozen people waiting to get in, but the line moved quickly. A staffer was outside, making sure everyone kept their distance and telling people who brought their own bags to put them back in the car. (TJ's packs your groceries in their big paper bags for free, a win because you can use them after for recycling.) As you reach the door, a second staffer wipes down the handle of the cart and hands it off to you along with a squirt of sanitizer if you want it. Once inside, everybody was masked and doing a good job of keeping out of one another's way. In stocks were excellent.... Found everything I needed though did not think to check flour. Checkout had a Plexiglas shield between you and the checker and the only contact was when you got your receipt. Of note, they have an hour reserved for seniors and vulnerable folks from 8-9 am daily.

Trader Joe's opened in August 2012 after many people lobbied hard to bring a store to the Capital District. My husband and I shop there every week to buy produce, frozen foods, coffee, eggs, milk, yogurt, orange juice, cheeses, snacks, nuts, pizzas and pasta from Italy, specialty beers, greeting cards, fresh flowers etc. The store is not huge, but it is packed with good food, and it is easy to navigate. The store is organized well, and the friendly crew is eager to assist. AND customers are easy going and pleasant even when the store is crowded. Prices are reasonable considering the quality of the products and compared to Whole Foods and other markets. The Trader Joe brand stands for quality. Do you know that you can ask to sample any item? Do you know that crew are very competent and speedy in checking you out? Do you know you can sample featured items at the tasting station? Do you know that hot coffee samples are always available? Do you know there is a huge variety of flowers and plants available at amazing low prices. Delivered to store daily! Do you know that Mates/managers will gladly check on availability of items and answer your questions? Do you know there is a large variety of quality greeting cards for only $.99? I could go on and on with superlatives, but I have made my point: Love Trader Joe's!

This is by and large the best grocery shopping experience I've ever had!! Having just moved to the area I never understood why there is ALWAYS a long line outside of Trader Joe's in Albany. I had this preconceived notion that Trader Joe's was this boujie, upscale, expensive grocery store. I found out this to be the furthest thing from the truth two days ago. I planned to go to Trader Joe's to purchase a gift card for my girlfriend's mother, being that her birthday was coming up. She LOVES Trader Joe's. Knowing there is ALWAYS a line outside, I planned to get there a little early on Saturday. So, I arrived at 8:40a when they open at 9. Then I wait in line for twenty minutes and proceed into the store. The first thing I notice is an array of beautiful flowers and plants all of which are moderately priced. So, I decided to buy my girlfriend "just because" flowers. I decided on two bouquets of various sunflower arrangements (sunflowers are her favorite). As I'm walking around the store, I notice EVERYTHING is reasonably priced- some stuff less expensive than Walmart. I'm taken back by this and say to myself, "Now I see why there is always a line outside." Not to mention a vast majority of their products are organic which I also appreciate. As I'm walking down one of the aisles with my cart a store worker named Ariel says to me, "Those flowers are beautiful! May I look at them?" To which I replied, "Absolutely". After she looks at them for a second she says, "These flowers are too beautiful. You know what? They are on me! Someone is going to be incredibly happy upon receiving them". She then scratches off the UPC code on them. I'm shocked at this and begin to express my gratitude. I then explain they are for my nine-month pregnant girlfriend and how much I love her. Ariel then inquires about the name of the baby and says what a blessing it is to be a parent. Being a first time Dad, I then asked for parenting advice. The whole conversation was extremely heartfelt and genuine, which in my 38 years I've never experienced in a grocery store from a grocery worker. I then proceeded to the checkout lane and was greet by an additional two workers who were equally friendly and kind. They asked if I found everything ok. I told them how lovely Ariel was and how impressed I was with the store, prices, the kindness of the workers. I told them it was my first time at a Trader Joe's as I just moved from Louisiana and that we didn't have one. They proceed to give me a free Trader Joe's shopping bag and welcomed me back home as I told them I am originally from the area but just retired from the US Army. These two workers were equally kind and genuine. The workers in this store make you feel like you are an actual part of the Trader Joe Family. Like I said, this was by and large the best shopping experience I ever had. I will undoubtedly return to Trader Joes and will recommend everyone I know to do the same!

I came in here looking for nothing, and left with a bag full of goodies. Coming here is less like grocery shopping and more like food shopping therapy. Everything sounds so good, looks so good, and is priced so well. I don't come here for full blown grocery shopping, but I come here to get some goodies and unique food stuffs I can't get other places. My last trip I found horseradish hummus, italian hot pepper bomba sauce, a very well prices assortment of fancy cheeses, some unique seasoning blends, cauliflower gnocchi, shimp gyoza, truffle cheese crisps, and more! And I left a happy shopper with the prices. My vegetarian/vegan friend came with me and got herself a bunch of goodies as well. there is such a good variety of vegan and vegetarian options. Customer service with a smile, great product, great prices.

I love love LOVE Trader Joe's! I used to drive to Massachusetts to get to one (anyone that has been in the capital region long enough to have known it before we got our own TJ's and also loves this store knows what MA store I'm talking about) because they have things that you just cannot get anywhere else. They have so many things that I love that I sometimes avoid the store so I don't spend away my bank account. Lol. Their frozen vegetables are so cheap too! I must have Trail Mix, Everything but the bagel seasoning, lots of their frozen vegetarian meals and burritos, snacks and I love their chips. Too many items to name here! I will say the one major negative is their parking lot. I enter from the mall and park in one of the lots behind the store. It's nuts to try to park in their lot unless you have a car that you don't care about. It WILL get scratched due to the tight spaces and huge crowds of people stalking for a place to park. I wish the capital region could get at least one more location to ease the crowds. I know this region could support at least two more locations! :-)

Friendliest TJ crew as always. They're welcoming and knowledgeable of new TJ items. Parking lot of always filled on weekends, go on a weekday where there aren't many shoppers and you can take your time strolling through the aisles. The produce display is scattered across the first section when you walk in. It's not clutter in the dead center where most TJs has it. I like the spacious walk through of the produce/fruits section. Always an enjoyable experience at TJs. That's my go to grocery store.

Seems kind of silly to review a place that is so obviously great, so I'm just going to throw my two cents in regarding TJ's vegetarian selections; they have some of the BEST! Below is a brief list of some of my faves: - Beef-less ground beef: TJ's brand of this is the only one I like; great replacement in things like chili and tacos - Gnocchi al Gorgonzola: one of the few quick frozen meals I keep in my house. Great to have on hand for nights I don't want to prepare a meal from scratch. Sauce is thick and cheesy, gnocchi have great texture - Soy Chorizo: meat eaters might disagree, but this tastes eerily similar to the real thing; love using it in nachos, chili, and spanish-style rice - Chicken-less Mandarin Orange Morsels: Great addition to rice, the mandarin orange sauce is killer - Green Jackfruit (cans): Jackfruit without any of the hassle of breaking it down yourself; makes a great pulled pork substitute Obviously there are many more that could be listed, go explore the store and see what gems you can find; just beware of the parking!

This Trader Joe's is laid out like many others. If you've been to one before you know the drill. Look out for great deals in unexpected places. Such as the hummus, and the quinoa spread. I tried the hummus, but not the quinoa spread yet. If you are looking for nuts of whatever nature they usually have a great variety at decent prices. I did find Lara Bars for a great price, and I snagged a few. The beer selection can be hit or miss. You really need to know your TJ's beers to know if they are a good deal. I sometimes get the pale lager, a steal at $3.99 a six pack. Granted it's not cold, but for a decent (not anything spectacular mind you) beer, it's worth a shot. Enjoy!

Perhaps the hardest part of transitioning from life in northern California to upstate New York in 2007 was the absence of Trader Joe's. Now that we have this location on Wolf Road, it is as if my former way of life has returned. The thing is that Trader Joe's has a whole lot of products that you just cannot find anywhere else. And of those things you can find elsewhere, TJs has them for much less money. Everyone has their favorite items, so I'll share with you my basket of goods. Organic baby carrots - great price Organic apples by the bag - great price Organic potatoes by the sack - great price Organic lowfat yogurt - great price Organic butter - great price Kriemhild butter - great product Eggplants by the piece - great price TJs Mac & Cheese - great product TJs organic whole grain spaghetti - great product TJs organic baked beans - great product TJs Spanish olive oil - great price Akmak crackers - great product TJs salted peanut butter - great product TJs frozen sweet peas - great price TJs frozen French green beans - great product TJs frozen organic corn - great price Applegate organic grassfed hot dogs - great price TJs 100% whole grain hot dog buns - great product TJs soft corn tortillas - great product TJs fancy shredded Mexican cheese blend - great product TJs sliced swiss cheese - great product Not everything is great. There are certainly some stinkers. I'm not crazy about a lot of their prepared frozen foods. Joe's O's are good, but they aren't even close to the texture of Cheerios. Their hummus makes me mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore. And beyond hot dogs, I can't say I buy a lot of meat from this market. Parking? Yeah, that's a problem. But there are workarounds. You can park in the northwest corner of the Colonie Center lot and walk the block if it's really bad. But I can count those occasions on one hand. Mostly, I simply ignore the entire section of the parking lot in front of Trader Joe's and only consider spots on the HoneyBaked Ham side. The store side is a fool's gambit. Outgoing and incoming traffic is far too likely to get jammed up at any number of bottlenecks, and I just don't have the patience to deal with that. The upside of the small parking lot is that regardless how gnarly it is outside, the store itself is never packed. I remember well the Trader Joe's of the SF bay area having checkout lines mobbed with carts packed so densely, it was impossible to tell where one line ended and the next began. Navigating that mess of humanity was a lot more stressful than attempting to find a parking spot within 100 paces of the front door.

It's what you'd expect from a Trader Joe's. Always our first stop for grocery shopping. The parking lot can be a complete sh*t show so don't go during peak times. However, they do have the best flowers in Albany.

This location is my favorite Trader Joe's. The average wait time to get in is 10-15 minutes, in a socially distant line. Sanitizer is offered before going in. Very friendly and helpful staff.

Always a pleasant shopping experience. The employees there are always nice and helpful and the store has a great variety of fresh vegetables and unique products. Well done.

I love TJ's. Tis the season for pumpkin and cornbread season. There's always a line outside to ensure that there's social distancing outside the store.

I was on the list of Capital Region residents begging for them to open up here. (Could've told them that parking lot would be inadequate!) Pretty much all their pre-prepared food is amazing (try the Indian dishes!). I also can't find true Spanish chorizo anywhere else. Please advise, if you know where else I can look!

I have been here many times over the past 6 months and my opinion has changed. Parking on a weekend or during the weekday dinner rush time is impossible, so I park in the back or next door when I need to come during those times. However, now I usually come in the evening when it is quieter. I usually shop here for individual items ("I know I need ___") or impulse items ("Let's walk around the store and see if anything looks interesting.") I still don't understand their floor plan... sometimes, I can find the same item in two or three different areas. My updated rating is based on coming during off-peak hours. If you come during peak hours, my older 2-star review applies.

Waited ages and ages for Trader Joe's to come to Albany! This location is definitely a busy spot, so I pretty much only shop here Sunday mornings. Otherwise I end up parking in the Colonie Mall lot and walking over because the lot gets too full and neurotic. The store is also small and homey in true Trader Joe's style. There is so much packed into this store, from plants to produce, frozen foods and even bath products. While I like fresh foods, we always buy a ton of frozen stuff, so I recommend bringing a cooler or cooler bag. Trader Joe's is fun and unique, and it's fun to see what I find each trip, almost sure to add a fave to my list. Some current faves: frozen tamales, organic rainbow carrots, bi bim bop bowls (frozen), tea tree shampoo, smoked almonds, frozen roasted corn.

They were perfect. From the very efficient and friendly line to get in. To the limits of customers, to the service, and of course to the choice of items to purchase. This visit to Trader Joes was absolutely a friendly and safe visit. We have not been to a better grocery store in a very long time.

I've been a fan of the Trader Joe's chain of stores for a long time now. My only issue with this particular location (and it's an issue in other locations across the state) is the parking. When it's busy, it's a cluster. The lot is small and so are the spaces. Just be patient...b/c there's a reason why Trader Joe's is so busy. Selection, Selection.....selection. Unique frozen items/meals, organic (and non-organic) produce, baked goods, gluten free options, cool variety of beers, various coffee beans, cheeses, meats...I can go on. Don't be fooled - not everything here is health food. In fact, there are so many wonderful treats all over the place...and many of them pack in quite a solid amount of calories. There are just so many items that aren't available at the regular supermarket. And....I've been consistently impressed with the people that work there. Always friendly, helpful and just have a nice energy about them. The people make me want to go back there. Ok...so does the chocolate. I also am a big fan of the coffee grinder situation. I buy quite a bit of coffee at Trader Joe's and let those machines do the whole bean grinding for me. One is designated as regular - the other is decaf. You can fit a ton o'beans in them thar machines. Anyway, I'm a fan. Wish it was closer to where I live but it's worth the drive. Oh - and I love that they were one of the first chains to accept Apple Pay. Another plus.

What can I say that has not already been said about this place. The layout in the store is amazing and cycles the guests well. Produce is infront of you when you immediately walk into the store. My favorite part of the store would be the frozen food section. Since I am all about portions, the bags of orange chicken are 4.99 a bag and they will last me one or two meals. What a deal! Being from California, I will always recommend bringing your own bags to the grocery store. But this is usually hard to remember but it definitely helps the environement. One of the things to watch out with the store is the parking on the outside. It is less than ideal and it can be sometimes impossible to find a parking spot unless you come during off hours. Furthermore, the stree that it is on is often busy so pulling out to make that illegal left can be often pointless.

Shout out to Bill at TJs Colonie who gave me cooking directions for the honey Aleppo sauce and then gave stickers to my kid. Such a nice team member and hope he gets rewarded for his awesome work.

I went to my first Trader Joe's a couple years ago and remember not understanding the hype. I forgot about it, and then news got out that we were getting one and all of the TJ fans started going on and on about how great it was, so I re-visited TJ's. Meh, meh, meh.. and more meh. Lots of packaged and pre made food. Which is fine if it's good, but I've gotten better packaged cocktail shrimp from Target. The Cookie Butter that gets a gagillion thumbs up? Tastes like cheap peanut butter mixed with gingerbread cookies. It is also super paste-like. The fruit was fine, same quality and some of the same brands I can get anywhere. I can go on, about what fell short in the three full bags of items I left with, but I won't. 2 stars for the spicy hummus, it's really good. As are their brand of pita chips. They also have a nice party cracker assortment, and I picked up a good grana padano on the cheap. TJ's seems to be going for an island feel, wish they'd carry more items that go with that.. POG juice, guava juice, yum. I still don't get the hype. What exactly do you TJ fans buy??

If you've never been to a Trader Joe's, what are you waiting for? Milk right now, a gallon costs $2.27, their products are not overpriced for the most part. They pick foods with less preservatives and more natural but overall it's more like a gourmet store with awesome food. Weekends are always packed so if you have the luxury of going during the week, do it. It's my preferred grocery store but I still have to go to a couple other places to get things they don't have. I highly suggest you try it if you haven't yet.

Okay, so it's Trader Joe's and there's been a ton of hype both positive and negative but I'm thrilled. I absolutely hate the location, so I don't see myself going there once a week but they've got a ton of stuff that I can now avoid buying at the local grocery store. The store was packed and I felt like I was shopping with TJ virgins who stopped in the aisle and gawked at things. There were some empty spaces on the shelves and I couldn't get a couple of things I wanted. The aisles were the widest I've ever seen in a TJs. Checking out took only a couple of minutes and I walked out with a free grocery bag (my motto in life is "free is good").

I went Saturday night still teaming masses long lines and people pushing their carts through like it's been open for years. I have to say I don't get it. Nothing what I thought, but shelves were empty! Everyone who wanted trader joes it's yours you can have it. I'm waiting for whole foods, but till then I have my fresh market. I will say joe's has a nice cheese section.

This is my favorite Trader Joe's location. The staff are always friendly and I always find what I am looking for. From my experience, it has never been super packed and I have always been in and out in a timely manner. There are also some samples of products that you can try before buying. Another huge bonus for me about this location is the parking lot (which is common in Albany, but being from Brooklyn this is a huge win)!

This market took a big hit from the coronavirus. Prior to March 2020 I would frequently visit it mostly for two reasons...flowers and coffee. They have a wonderful selection of both! The only problem since is most of the time you can't get in the place without waiting in line outside for varying lengths of time. When I notice there is a very short line or none at all I will deviate from my current plan to stop in, usually to buy flowers for our dining room table. They also offer a great selection of coffee and much of it is whole bean. Their wake-up blend is fantastic. Hopefully somewhere down the line the choking restrictions will ease somewhat.

My first Trader Joe's experience. What can I say about you? You excited me by the thought of something new. Something I cannot find in the city I call home. I could hardly believe my luck when I found a parking spot up front, when it seemed your lot is much too small. You were small, clean, and filled with people lured in by your promises of natural, organic, and fair trade certified. I tried your dark chocolate and some unsalted pretzels, an odd combo yes, but one to sustain any snacking urges I would run into in my nearby hotel room. Your employees treated me well but your prices were a bit too much for me to love. Your bags are the best in the biz, kudos to that. If I'm ever in Albany again, I may try you again, but I won't be jealous that I can't find one at home.

Crew member Shannon is my hero. Pandemic, protest the world is crazy and shopping is complicated. Sometimes life comes at you fast and you need a hand, someone to remind you to breathe. I always find great food at Trader joes but the crew make the shopping excellent. Thank you for making a bad situation into a rose garden, Shannon H., You are a rockstar in my world.

Trader Joe's is the best grocery store in the Albany area and I can't stop raving about it. Everything is so good, reasonably priced, and fun. I love reading the little signs they have around the store, the staff is super friendly, and the wait to get in and check out is really short.

Why does this Trader Joe's have about 200 shopping carts in front of the store when the parking lot can only hold about 60 cars? I bet the carts at the front of the lines have never ever been used. I had heard the parking lot here could be challenging. It's certainly not well designed, but I've seen worse. When I first walked in, my initial reaction was that they had more check-outs than I've seen at most other Trader Joe's. That's a plus, but only if enough of them are open that you don't have a long wait to check out. I didn't have a wait, so that was a plus. For produce and meat - when a Trader Joe's is in a larger metropolitan area and competing mostly with places like Whole Foods, their produce and meat is going to be competitively priced. But in a smaller metropolitan area, where you're competing with grocery store chains like Shop Rite and Price Chopper, not so much. And when certain types of produce (e.g., bananas and peppers) are sold individually (bananas were 19 cents apiece), you can't make an easy determination if the price is competitive versus traditional by-the-pound pricing elsewhere. But I guess they want it to be a difficult choice so you'll say, "Okay, I'm here, I'll buy some anyway." The trick for any Trader Joe's is to find the items you like that are competitively priced. For me, that's a lot of their store brands - things like their pasta, soups, oils, cereals, etc. It also used to include native-caught frozen fish, but the amount of that in their inventory has been dwindling, and now places like BJ's are offering their own brands of frozen wild-caught fish at competitive prices. I was intrigued by the beer selection... did not fully investigate it, will check it out at a later time. Bottom line - If you shop at multiple places locally to get the best overall deals on your purchases, you can add Trader Joe's to your list. It's not necessarily the best place to go for one-stop shopping.

I love the Albany,NY Trader Joe's. So very well organized, especially during this pandemic. I drive an hour to get my groceries here. Great variety and quality food on an affordable price. They always have something new and they cater to healthy eating habits. Their employees are always go out of their way to help you. Thank you!

Could not live without Trader Joe's. The people are friendly and helpful. Food is awesome. Prepared frozen items are great and the outstanding selection of nuts.

Love it here! The staff is just so friendly they make every experience worth the parking lot hassle! Always reasonable pricing, great produce and selection of dairy alternatives. But really the customer service is what makes this place so great!

A wonderful addition to the Albany area. Used to drive 2+ hours away to get my Trader Joe's fix. No longer have to horde when I can drive to Colonie and find new and exciting items on a weekly basis. Love, love, love going to TJ's for fruits, veggy's, cereals and baked goods. Great prices and no high fructose or partially hydrogenated oils. Good clean food.

Once you make the mistake of coming here at 4:30 on a Saturday evening...or noon on a Sunday...or 5:30-6:30pm on a weekday, you'll never make that mistake again. Yet, despite having to park in one of the tight spots behind the store and schlep my bags back, and having to navigate aisles and dodge carts momentarily abandoned by their operators every 4 feet, I keep coming back. Although I would prefer not having to feel like my shopping mantra needs to be "every woman for herself," there are many gems here that are worth the added stress. As for produce, I really enjoy the "riced" broccoli and cauliflower, the precut butternut squash (no more hacking away!), as well as the good prices on bagged potatoes. The bagged pre-cut broccoli and cauliflower are a little pricy for the amount, but it's a good time saver. I like grabbing English peas, pea shoots, Kirby cucumbers, and arugula. A favorite occasional frozen food item of mine is the chicken tikka masala microwave meals. I also dig the mini chocolate dipped ice cream cones. So cute, and so good (just *try* to eat only one!). I think what I enjoy most of all is that I can stock up on healthy "staples" for a good deal less than at Whole Foods down the road. If you need "alternative" flours (maybe you're gluten free, maybe you're just trying to be a little more healthy) come here. Almond meal here cost about $6. The bag of Bob's red mill almond meal at Whole Foods cost me twice that (seriously!). Coconut flour cost just $3. Grab your spices while you are here, too. Garlic and onion powder, Harissa, paprika, peppercorns, Himalayan sea salt, and more -- all run about $3. I also found some of the best prices I've seen on almond butter, coconut oil, coconut milk and coconut cream, clarified butter, and olive oil. You can also get coconut oil in spray form -- great for baking! TJ's is also a great place to try something new at a good price. They have jarred preserved lemon if you want to try your hand at some Moroccan tagine dishes. Feel like hosting high tea? Pick up a delicious an tart jar of lemon curd. New to Indian food? Make it at home with a jar of curry or masala simmer sauce. For those on Whole30 who want to try to save some money, Trader Joe's stocks, at good prices, many of the (few) snacks that are approved on this diet: RX bars, Larabars, Chomps meat sticks, and Epic jerky bars. Oh, and SO many unsweetened freeze dried and regular dried fruit. And the nuts! Regular almonds, fancy rosemary marcona almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, Brazil nuts, cashews -- raw, dry roasted, salted, unsalted -- you name it! Most are well priced, too. You can make a pretty great cheese/charcuterie plate by combining some of the nuts and dried fruit with some quality cheese from the cheese section. They even have some prosciutto and other charcuterie by the meats. I don't often shop for my meat here, but they do have a couple of organic options (about $13 for a 3-pack of organic chicken breast, which was about $4 cheaper than at Whole Foods). I also saw ground turkey (not organic, but listed as "natural"), bone in (nonorganic) drumsticks, chicken thighs, a variety of pre-marinated chicken and beef, filet mignon (about $20 for 2), sausage, and ground pork. If you are someone who likes to give cards, like me, check out the greeting cards (near the back of the store by the beer). They cost .99 cents each and have such cute patterns and messages. They're a great deal. You can find really lovely flowers at fantastic prices (less than $1.50 for a bunch of daffodils, for starters). Although you may have to hunt for parking, bob shopping carts and people, and politely but sternly say "excuse me" to at least 5 people who find it a good idea to stop in the middle of the aisle to chat or read the nutrition facts on a container, the generally good prices, hard to find items, and friendly employees make it so worth it!

Like any TJs this place is like a zoo but it's really tidy and clean. I went when it was absolutely packed and having only been to the NYC store, I thought I'd have a long wait to checkout. There were so many registers open and I was rung up by the sweetest young guy. Will definitely stop by whenever I head to Albany for my haircuts.

Trader Joe's is unbelievably amazing. They always have fresh, raw, delicious, vegan, unique foods! They're prices are amazing! I am buying the same things I would in other stores. My grocery bill went from $280 to under $100. That is amazing. Who does love to save foods on organic food?! P.s. customer service was also amazing. Great staff. Even better store! Thank you Trader Joe's!!!!!