Tag Archives: Trader Joe’s

Yes, This Is An Actual Parking Job At Trader Joe’s. No, It’s Not A Late April Fool’s Joke.

Posted on April 3, 2017 | 54 comments

Here’s another view. Yes, he left his door open the entire time.

When alert — and astonished — “06880” reader David Meth asked the driver if he couldn’t find a parking spot, the response was: “F— you!”

You can’t make this s— up.

54 Comments

Posted in Places, Transportation, Westport life

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Give A Little Le Rouge Love: The Sequel

Posted on February 14, 2017 | 5 comments

On Sunday, “06880” gave a shout-out to Aarti Khosla. The owner of Le Rouge — the fantastic downtown artisan chocolate shop — is offering handmade hearts for just $5 each. She wants folks to give them to people who have made a difference in someone’s life. “Give a Little Love,” she calls her campaign.

Yesterday, there were lines out the door. Today, countless customers handed out untold numbers of chocolate hearts. What a way to celebrate Valentine’s Day!

Aarti welcomes photos of the recipients. She’ll display them on a “Wall of Love” in her cafe.

You’ll want to see it. But here’s a sneak peek:

give-a-little-love-skye-trader-joes

That’s Doris Ghitelman, bestowing her random act of kindness on Shy, one of Trader Joe’s superb employees.

“She always greets me with a smile, and inspires me with her generous spirit and drive,” Doris says. “Today I let her know how much I appreciate her.”

Doris adds: “When she’s not working at Trader Joe’s, Shy is an immigration law student at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.”

Aarti’s campaign runs all through February. So there’s plenty of time for all of us to join Doris and Shy, and “give a little love.”

5 Comments

Posted in Downtown, Local business, People, Westport life

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Trader Joe’s Bouquet

Posted on January 31, 2017 | 28 comments

Joyce Joiner — who calls herself a “moderately alert ‘06880’ reader” — writes:

I always wonder why there are so many disgruntled comments on this blog.

In the 9 years I’ve lived here I’ve reaped the benefits of this charming town: Compo Beach, Longshore, friendly bartenders, nice kids … it’s a pretty nice place to live!

Today, after a snowy walk to Trader Joe’s — where I got some flowers for my mom, who’s in the hospital — Trudy and I had our regular fond exchange about our cats, my mom, etc.

She noticed how tired I looked. When I told her I was at the hospital a lot, she pulled one bouquet away and said, “This is on me, honey.”

But wait! There’s more!

The chip reader needed rebooting. It was taking a long time. Trudy was ready to say, “Just go! I’ll get it. You can pay me back.”

The chip reader came to life.

And I — happily walking in the snow, to Uber it to Norwalk Hospital — did too!

joyce-joiners-mom

Joyce Joiner’s mom, and her flowers.

 

28 Comments

Posted in Local business, Totally random

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Farrow & Ball’s Window On Westport

Posted on January 17, 2017 | 7 comments

Unless you’re a 5th Avenue department store at Christmas, it’s tough to get folks to look in your window.

It’s especially difficult when you’re located next to Trader Joe’s in Westport. You’re set back from the Post Road — and who can pay attention when you’re weaving in and out of traffic at 40 miles an hour, anyway?

But that has not stopped Farrow & Ball from trying.

The intriguing Farrow & Ball window invites you to peek inside.

The intriguing Farrow & Ball window invites you to peek inside.

The UK-based paint-and-paper crafts shop has 14 US showrooms. As part of an AIDS awareness and fundraising initiative with DIFFA — Design Industry Foundation Fighting AIDS — each location chose a local designer to create a window based on the theme “Comfort and Cure.”

Westport’s Farrow & Ball selected Connie Cooper. She wanted to make her design intriguing from inside the store, as well as the street.

She imagined the vignette as the home office of an international doctor, home relaxing during the holidays. She found an antique bag from 1948, filled with all kinds of vintage doctor tools. It belonged to an actual naval physician.

And here's the view from inside.

And here’s the view from inside.

It’s a cool window. But you should do more than just glance at it, as you fly toward your parking space by Trader Joe’s.

Every time someone shares a photo of the window on social media (#FaBForDIFFA), the firm donates $1 to AIDS research.

It’s up for a couple of more weeks. So hurry! (But drive safely…)

(An open house at Farrow & Ball from 5-7 p.m. this Thursday [January 19] salutes window creator Connie Cooper. Guests receive a goody bag, while supplies last.)

7 Comments

Posted in Arts, Local business, Organizations, People

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Westport’s Greatest Parking Job

Posted on May 9, 2016 | 9 comments

For years, “06880” has featured mind-blowing, head-scratching, eye-rolling entitled parking photos.

Today we found someone who actually knows how to park between two white lines.

Of course, with this car it’s almost impossible to miss:

BMW Isetta

Alert “06880” photographer Jaime Bairaktaris spotted this 1955 BMW Isetta at Trader Joe’s this evening.

The Italian-designed microcar from 1955 — complete with retro license plate — attracted many onlookers. From the front-opening door and disco ball to the courtesy car sticker, Jaime says, it deserved the attention.

Meanwhile, I’m impressed it made it through the parking lot without being run over.

9 Comments

Posted in Totally random, Transportation

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One More Reason To Love Trader Joe’s: The Sequel

Posted on February 3, 2016 | 13 comments

Last week, we gave a shout-out to Trader Joe’s for the very selfish reason that a study shows the store’s presence in a town increases property values.

Today we salute the fun, funky and reasonably priced market for doing good for folks who may not have homes.

Alert “06880” reader Jo Ann Davidson — okay, very alert — noticed something the other day in the little hall near the bathrooms. (You didn’t know Trader Joe’s had bathrooms? They do — and they’re spacious, clean and nicely decorated. But I never spotted what Jo Ann saw.)

A sign nearby notes — proudly, but without bragging — that Trader Joe’s recycles about-to-expire (yet still quite edible) food.

Trader Joe's - 1

As the photo above explains, every store in the chain partners with “reliable and trustworthy” non-profits to pick up nearly expired food. (Flowers too!) Last week alone, Trader Joe’s donated nearly $12,000 worth of food.

But wait! There’s more!

They also collect winter items like coats, hats and gloves in a nearby box.

Trader Joe's - 2

What great ideas! Thanks, Trader Joe’s (and Jo Ann).

Just imagine how much they’d collect though, if they moved the collection box away from the who-knew-they-were-there bathrooms?

Like, say, over by the spot where they hand out (fantastic) free samples every day.

13 Comments

Posted in Local business

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One More Reason To Love Trader Joe’s

Posted on January 28, 2016 | 8 comments

Everyone knows that our strong school system keeps property values high.

But who knew Trader Joe’s does the same?

According to the Huffington Post, a recent study found that 2 years after a Trader Joe’s opens, the median home within a mile of that store increased in value 10 percent more than others in the same town.

One economic engine...

One economic engine…

Homes within a mile of a Whole Foods also gain value faster than others in the surrounding area.

...and another.

…and another.

That’s not only good news for Westport — where we enjoy both a Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods.

It’s also a solution to the teardown battles. Instead of building big new homes everywhere in town, we just need to erect more Trader Joe’s and Whole Foodses!

(Hat tip: Johanna Rossi)

8 Comments

Posted in Economy, Local business, Media

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Compo Acres Shopping Center Just Got A Bit More Crowded

Posted on November 11, 2015 | 10 comments

Jersey Mike’s Subs opened today, in the Compo Acres space previously occupied by Robek’s.

The “fast-casual sub sandwich” spot — the 10th Connecticut location for the franchise, and one of 1500 overall — joins Trader Joe’s, Chipotle and SoulCycle in contributing plenty of constant, in-and-out traffic to Westport’s toughest-to-navigate shopping center.

That traffic will be particularly intense for a while. In addition to the usual let’s-try-the-new-place mentality, there’s an added incentive: Through Sunday, Jersey Mike’s is offering free subs for a minimum $1 contribution to Special Olympics.

The only catch: You’ve got to already have one of the 10,000 certificates “circulating throughout the community.”

Jersey Mike's was packed at 1:30 p.m. today.

Jersey Mike’s was packed at 1:30 p.m. today.

10 Comments

Posted in Local business, Restaurants

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Pachelbel Meets Compo Beach At Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe's

7 Comments

Posted on October 24, 2015 in Beach, Local business, Totally random

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Only 47 Days Until Halloween!

Posted on September 14, 2015 | 6 comments

The 1st sign of the holiday this year, courtesy of Trader Joe’s:

Trader Joe's pumpkins

6 Comments

Posted in Local business

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