The still under contruction Kroger Marketplace will soon have competition on Iron Bridge Road. The grocer Aldi has secured a site for its grocery store just east of Ironbridge Baptist Church at 10900 Ironbridge Rd.
The European grocery chain has made inroads across the country with 1,300 stores in 32 states, and has recently entered the Richmond market. Aldi has two stores open in the area; one in Henrico County and one in Colonial Heights.
Aldi is different then what grocery shoppers are used to. For the most part Aldi’s carries its own brands, which are primarily grocery products. It does however offer select other products such as stereo components and back to school items.
According to the Aldi website, “At ALDI, we do everything possible from our carts to checkout to energy-saving stores to give you incredibly high quality at impossibly low prices.”
One of the ways Aldi saves money, offering it’s customers better prices, is customers retrieving their own shopping cart. You pay a quarter to get a cart and then get a refund when you return your cart. You cannot pay for you items with a credit card; only cash, debit or EBT cards.
The store does not offer bags so you must bring your own or buy one at checkout.
Aldi carries some 1,400 products, half that of a typical grocery store chain.
“ A typical ALDI store stays open during the most popular shopping hours,” according to Aldi’s website.
The site plan, a county review of how the store will sit on the property, including buffers, parking lots and signage, is underway. It is not clear, at this time, when construction will begin or the when the store will open.
