The East, part 7: For Rachel

       Remember That Thing You Do?  Remember that beach movie the guys were playing for – Captain Whatever and the Crab Shack Shooters?  Well, once upon a time in California, somebody who truly had that same muse came up with the idea for a grocery store: Trader Joe’s.  As the years went on, the spirit of groove spread.   And here it is, alive and well in Rhode Island.  (How did Minnesota get one before UTAH did????)

Rachel loves this place.  And after her MM had brought us a sample of the chocolate from this place, we were hot about it, too.  Be aware that you do not have to wear a Hawaiian shirt to shop here.  Inside these walls, you will find the famous Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps, along with a panoply of other delights.

Here we are, making our way out of the dreary end of Autumn into the brilliant burning sun of abundance!

The staff is friendly, helpful and informed.  And they all wear some type of hibiscus.  I did not take a shot of the guy in the sapphire blue hibiscus shirt, accessorized with a lei of tiny plastic fruit, but you get the idea.

The wonders of bath products.  Joe’s stocks fine and exotic brands, but their strength is in the stuff they have made under their exclusive brand.  Whatever, anything you find here is going to be fun.

Another sweetheart.  This is one company that actually interviews its people face-to-face.  Don’t you hate this trend to internet applications only?  You can decide who you want to trust with your business and your customers by reading some resume???  These guys check out the spirit of a person, and viola!  You LIKE shopping there.

Jaunty signs and the coolest holiday fare EVER.  One of the things these guys can do is supply you with great, old fashioned, traditional treats – great toffee, licorice scotty dogs, chocolate covered EVERYTHING – the kind of stuff people used to make to take to neighbors at Christmas, all boxed up, priced well, and ready for you to take home.

I love America.  Look at this stuff – diversity made practical, delightful and delicious.  Gin’s favorite stuff is the frozen dinner things you can take home – great food, great price, feed at least three.  Buy a new freezer.  Live life to the fullest.

So the question is, how the heck do we get one of these places in Utah Valley?  Maybe a few well placed emails from the peeps?  Really – their pound slabs of dark chocolate and almonds?  Worth the cost of the campaign.