Tensions are flaring on 14th Street, as the waiting time at Trader Joe's is now estimated at 20 minutes. Shortly before 2 p.m., an argument broke out over an alleged line-cutter.

One customer, who accused another of cutting, got very angry.

"Why don't you go to hell and get in line you fucking bitch?"

A crew member, wearing gigantic, plastic green glasses, came over to settle everyone down. All the free samples in the world of vegetable root chips are not going to smooth things over.

"It's definitely not like this is California," said a nearby customer.

Over at Whole Foods, things are relatively calm. The checkout line--which included celebrity shopper Michael Showalter--was comparatively shorter.

- Michael Calderone and Nicole Brydson

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