Trader Joe's

I am such a huge fan of Trader Joe's that I picked up a 10 hour per week part time job there last year! (We have since moved 2.5 hours away and I sorely miss the employee discount!) I really love the staff and products at the Old Town Alexandria location. It is a tiny little location, so it is important to time your visits well. Saturday and Sunday during the day are two times to avoid, or you will get stuck in long lines and trying to finagled your cart around others. Morning time is great if you want to get in and out quickly. If there are any products you can't find, just ask someone and they can tell you when it will be back in stock. Also, if you try anything and don't like it (including alcohol), they will refund your money and let you try something else instead! Wine prices can't be beat...even if you steer clear of the "Two-Buck-Chuck!" more

This is the best, combining low prices with organic, non processed foods. Nearby Balduci's (formerly Sutton Place) has a greater selection of fresh foods, but is more expensive. The new Whole Foods (on Duke Street) also has a greater (and more expensive) selection but, alas, the traffic getting there and parking is not worth it. So Trader Joe's it is, and remains! more

Trader Joe's - the gourmet grocery store - overall is much better pricewise than its competitor, Whole Foods, and there are a handful of Trader Joe's around the metro area. But I find this one is the best by far in terms of selection. It is small - certainly not the size of one of the chain grocery stores - but you would be surprised at the variety of foods available here....international foods, pet foods, frozen, wine, you name it. And though this is a small branch of the chain, lines seem to move quickly. The help is pleasant and efficient too. more