Trader Joe’s Open in Albany

New York State's and the Capital Region's first Trader Joe's opened today on Wolf Road to a huge crowd and lots of traffic. Many have been anticipating the grand opening for weeks and stood in line to be the first to visit the store. Trader Joe's is not like your average supermarket, its small only 13,000 square feet and has a narrow selection of products which will keep prices low. Will you shop there?

Since the size of the Wolf Road store is small, mostly 80 percent of the products are Trader Joe type brands. You probably won't do all of your shopping at Trader Joes, the store is more of a specialty type of grocery store as most of its products are organic and many are frozen and packaged.

It will be interesting to see how Trader Joe's effects the grocery market here in the Capital Region as it joins crowded competition. It may take some business from Price Chopper, Shop Rite and Hannaford, but it compares mostly to the Fresh Market. TJ's may have more effect on the Co-op's of the area with the amount of whole foods it offers.

Trader Joe's also specializes on customer service and has challenged the current markets to step up their game. The Trader Joe's shopping experience will be fun and different than anywhere else.

This isn't the first Trader Joe's that will be opening in New York State as another one is expected soon in Rochester.