I'm not entirely surprised. I stepped into this place once and was greeted by the most unwelcoming staff I've encountered in a long time. They seemed put off by telling me about their programs, pricing, etc. There wasn't a single customer in the place, so I'm not sure why I was such an inconvenience. I walked out never again thinking about the place and can't imagine I'm the only one. — Daniel P on Drill Fitness is Closing

ewwwww no thought to the people who will be displaced? disgusting.thanks AM new york and James above. makes my blood boil with rage at the callousness of people giving information about future plans for IP, like there are no people there!!!!! — tino on Another Grocer Wants to Take Over the Tribeca Food Emporium

My love of TJ's is thanks to their quality products at more than reasonable prices. I also enjoy a lot of their seasonal and store brand products that I can't find anywhere else. — Carolyn on What Is It About Trader Joe’s?

my bad, 7 words — Jim Smithers on What Is It About Trader Joe’s?

72% is technically 3 words, so that would be a total of 8 words. — Jim Smithers on What Is It About Trader Joe’s?

Wegmans...XOXOXOX — Sheila on What Is It About Trader Joe’s?

Five words: giant Belgian 72% chocolate bars! — Robert Ripps on What Is It About Trader Joe’s?

why isn't the garbage Vornado under investigation for harrassing the tenants of IPN? The PEOPLE UNDER LAP/STICKY VOUCHER WHO STILL PAY A HIGH RENT PRICE FOR THEIR APARTMENTS ARE TREATED DIFFERENTLY THEN THE NEW MARKET TENANTS THAT COME IN. PREJUDICE EXIST AT INDEPENDANE PLAZA AND THE TENANTS SUFFER WITH THIS EVERY DAY. — james on Another Grocer Wants to Take Over the Tribeca Food Emporium

Vacating the tenants is spoken about like PEOPLE DON'T EXIST AND LIVE IN IPN. SHAME ON THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO REGARD FOR OTHERS. — AM New York on Another Grocer Wants to Take Over the Tribeca Food Emporium

The appeal of TJ's is not staples like milk or bread (where, it should be said, they offer good and inexpensive choices). The key to their appeal is in addictive items like Thai chili cashews and pumpkin pancake mix. They have just enough of the basic stuff at decent prices but every time I go there I get hooked on some new thing like a frozen curry dish they'll offer as a sample or a cheese that's half off. — Troy on What Is It About Trader Joe’s?

Thank goodness for the update or I may have had a heart attack! Cant deal with all these huge towers going up everywhere — Nicole on 44-Story Tower Rumored for Southeast Tribeca

Evidently you've never been to Wegmans! They excel at everything. — Underdog on What Is It About Trader Joe’s?

The Cricketer's Arms. SFWA! — Jim Smithers on Where in Tribeca…?

My family recently had 6 pairs of shoes + boots repaired at Express Shoe Repair. The cobbler there is really good, prices very reasonable. Sad to hear that he will be displaced. Hope he will find another store front in the neighborhood. — TribecaMom on 44-Story Tower Rumored for Southeast Tribeca

@Alf You have no idea what you are talking about. There has been talk about moving BMCC, but (a) that would be a separate project with minimal impact on IPN, and (b) it is totally speculative and would be unlikely to occur in a 5-10 year time horizon. Yes, IP retail is going to get redone over the next couple years (hence vacating the tenants), but there is no chance that IP is going to be torn down in 5-10 years. — charango on Another Grocer Wants to Take Over the Tribeca Food Emporium

Pretty soon you may have to cancel "Where in Tribeca?" because there won't be anywhere left! — Nathan D on 44-Story Tower Rumored for Southeast Tribeca

Please make them stop. — Nathan D on 44-Story Tower Rumored for Southeast Tribeca

Minimally processed is right. I like buying my bread at TJ's too. If I buy a loaf ANYWHERE other than TJ's, this is what happens. I have a loaf of bread in my house for upwards of a month, despite the "sell by" date, no mold, no going bad. I buy a loaf at TJ's and if I don't eat that whole freaking loaf within 5 days, I have an entire city of mold all over that thing. — TJ's 4-Life on What Is It About Trader Joe’s?

I must be a monster then because to me, Shake Shake seems like an upscale McDonalds. There is NOTHING I would want on their menu. — KP on What Is It About Trader Joe’s?

We frequent the Chelsea store which is less claustrophobic than the one in Union Square. Its not perfect, but we get a bunch of staples there of high quality and fair price. Cereals, granola bars, oils, baking goods, tomato sauces, eggs, cheeses, snacks, milk/ cream, breads, nuts, chocolate, beer and frozen foods are a good deal and always consistent. Since you asked, some of my favorite TJ specific items are: Korean BBQ chicken sausages, shaved beef, pear/ champagne vinegar, frozen fries, firm tofu, oatmeal, chipotle salsa, tortillas (way better than WF),baby kale, haricort verts, capers, slider buns, sprouted bread, and they have a wonderful chocolate ice cream. I have to admit I am mostly not crazy about their produce. But honestly, after over paying (many times) for sub standard produce and seafood at Whole Foods, there is no perfect option. TJs staff are very helpful and always friendly. I am always amazed at how pleasant my check out experience is at TJ vs the eternally bitter at WF and clueless at Food Emporium. I tire sometimes of the faux "good for you/good for the earth" messaging at WF. Honestly sometimes WF feels like a SNL skit with its earnest tastings of "quinoa hemp frozen treats--gluten free of course." If we are going to get another grocery store, I'd rather have the limited but consistent and affordable TJs over another flavor of Food Emporium which is what Key Foods would be. No endorsement for Shake Shack from me, but my kids might disagree — cami on What Is It About Trader Joe’s?

As if I go to the Upper West Side. — Erik Torkells on What Is It About Trader Joe’s?

Agree with JD and betty. I don't go to TJ's for cheap produce, but I do make a trip at least once a month for specific pantry items. There are some top producers behind their private label products e.g. the frozen croissant (because Arcade is not open on the weekends!). The croissants are produced by Galaxy Desserts, the same folks who make Williams-Sonoma's croissants. But at TJs you get 16 for $8, vs. $39.95 (plus shipping) at WS http://justinsomnia.org/2007/11/meeting-the-man-behind-trader-joes-chocolate-croissants/ The Union Sq store is not a fair test, it really is too small. Try Chelsea or UWS. — Andrea on What Is It About Trader Joe’s?

The reason that Vornado is not renewing leases is that they plan to tear down IPN in the next 5-10 years and build a massive mixed use project. This will include high end condos, retail and a hotel. Trust me, they have this figured out. The plan also includes relocating BMCC and using that land and air rights. — Alf on Another Grocer Wants to Take Over the Tribeca Food Emporium

I've never purchased meat or veg at Trader Joe's but the selection of pantry items is superb. They are one of the few places that carry truly nut-free dried fruits and I really appreciate the minimally processed snacks and candies. — JD on What Is It About Trader Joe’s?

I have never found a single super market that excelled in everything. So, I have never expected Trader Joe to be the be all and end all shopping experience. . . especially in Manhattan where giant stores can't succeed at today's rents. Does TJ think of itself as a supermarket? Or a specialty store? Are your readers asking or expecting too much? Nevertheless, I have found it is more fun to shop at Trader Joe than anywhere else. The staff is delightful. Some products are the best anywhere and I will stack their crackers (pardon the pun) against any others. Most of the standard products are as good, some are not, but I expect TJ's score card would measure up against any other Manhattan store. The prices are very good. And no store can move a checkout line faster. I will always want more than one supermarket in my neighborhood to carry national brands and I want the other to be TJs. P.S. That Union Square store is far too small for its regular shoppers. Perhaps it is there for the wine store customers to pick up a few items. At any rate, before making a judgment, try the store in Chelsea which is excellent and BIG enough to hold all the people who enjoy shopping at TJ. — betty on What Is It About Trader Joe’s?