LOCAL

Deciding whether to shop at Rory's or Trader Joe's? Here's what you need to know.

Paul Edward Parker
The Providence Journal

PROVIDENCE – Last month, Rory's Market + Kitchen brought grocery shopping back to Downtown. In the next couple of months, Trader Joe's will bring a competitor into that marketplace.

The Trader Joe's 425 South Main St. location was announced at the beginning of August and still doesn't have an opening date, but the company has been busy hiring staff. It has about half of the 100 people it needs, according to a company spokeswoman.

According to a job listing on the company's website, shifts are available every day of the week at a starting rate of $16 to $20 an hour for up to 38 hours a week.

Comparing Rory's and Trader Joe's

The real proof will be after both Providence stores are open and shoppers can compare which has the better prices, the fresher produce and the smoother checkout experience, but here are a few points of comparison available now:

Location

Rory's is in Downtown, at 113 Washington St.

Trader Joe's will be on the other side of the Providence River from Downtown, in the Fox Point neighborhood across the Point Street Bridge at 425 South Main St. Many Rhode Islanders will probably think of it as being on Wickenden Street because it's part of a complex that fronts that street.

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Size

Rory's is 6,000 square feet.

Trader Joe's will be 13,000 square feet.

Chain

Rory's Providence store is the third in a chain that previously was only on Cape Cod.

Trader Joe's is headquartered in California and has more than 500 stores in 43 states.

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Hot food

Rory's sells made-to-order hot food at its coffee and juice counter.

Trader Joe's doesn't. "Although we do not offer hot prepared foods, we have plenty of ready-to-eat choices and easy-to-prepare options," said spokeswoman Nakia Rohde.

Parking

Rory's relies on street parking and pedestrian traffic.

Trader Joe's will rely  on pedestrian traffic and parking in a complex with an off-street lot.

Opening

Rory's opened Sept. 23. 

Trader Joe's hasn't set an opening date but said it will be this year.