Reader: Trader Joe's is finally coming. Would you drive to Boulder to shop there?

It's official: Yesterday, Trader Joe's confirmed that it will open its first Colorado location at the Twenty Ninth Street Mall in Boulder: a 14,000-square-foot store that is slated to open in 2013 at 1906 28th Street, where an Applebee's is currently located. Although the future Boulder store isn't yet listed...

By Patricia Calhoun

February 15, 2012

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It's official: Yesterday, Trader Joe's confirmed that it will open its first Colorado location at the Twenty Ninth Street Mall in Boulder: a 14,000-square-foot store that is slated to open in 2013 at 1906 28th Street, where an Applebee's is currently located.

Although the future Boulder store isn't yet listed on Trader Joe's "opening soon" page, the Front Range has been buzzing about finally getting a branch of the California-based outfit, which has more than 365 stores around the country. But some heretics have suggested that Trader Joe's isn't worth the wait; on Monday, we posted a comment from TJ that "TJ is not as great as it is made out to be.".

That inspired this from NoBo Bear:

I'm with TJ re: TJ's. They're OK, nothing really special, have some different/nice things. They're the grocery equivalent of In-N-Out: OK, not the best, but has a cult following that talks it up all the time.

Now, if CO got Central Markets, THAT'S a grocery store that has it going on.

But fans of Trader Joe's were quick to respond. Says Retiree:

Nobo, PLEASE DON'T GO TO TRADER JOE'S. The lines will be way too long as it is.

And then there's this from Alan, who apparently takes issue with my choosing TJ's original quote to highlight:

I am sorry that Pat doesn't know great when she sees it. It's sad to fine one so miss informed. I suggest that she should stay away from the trader if it is so terrible.

For the record, I've enjoyed shopping at Trader Joe's stores while in the Chicago area and Tucson...but I probably wouldn't make a special trip to Boulder to shop at one. Would you? Post your comment below, or join the conversation already under way here.

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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