First ALDI In Phoenix Finally Opens After More Than A Month Delay

PHOENIX, AZ — After more than a month delay, the new ALDI grocery store in south Phoenix is open.

The store is the first ALDI within the Phoenix city limits. ALDI already operates stores in Phoenix suburbs, including Goodyear, Chandler, Gilbert and a new store that opened Dec. 10 in Queen Creek.

The store was initially set to open its doors with a grand opening ceremony Dec. 10, but the opening was pushed off with no explanation to media outlets, including Patch, that had helped the chain advertise the planned opening. Hopeful customers who showed up to the store in December were met with a sign that said the opening was delayed. ALDI did not immediately respond to a request from Patch asking the cause of the delay.

Although the store, at 5775 W. Baseline Road in Laveen is already open to shoppers, the grand opening ceremony was rescheduled for Thursday.

Store hours are 9 a.m. – 9 p.m., with special hours for shoppers vulnerable to COVID-19 from 8:30-9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

“We are excited to open our first ALDI location in Phoenix and introduce area shoppers to the high-quality, fresh foods we offer at low prices in every aisle of the store, every day,” Tom Cindel, group director of operations and logistics for ALDI, said in the release. “The ALDI business model is designed to provide exceptional products at unbeatable prices, and we look forward to serving Phoenix customers for many years to come.”

The opening of the Phoenix store is part of what ALDI is calling an "aggressive national expansion," according to the news release. ALDI runs more than 2,100 stores in 37 states and aims to have the third-most stores among grocery chains in the U.S. by the end of the year.

ALDI's business model focuses on offering shoppers the best products at the lowest possible prices, according to a news release.

Phoenix shoppers might not be used to some of the strategies ALDI uses to keep prices low.

They include:

• Shoppers must put a quarter into a shopping car to unlock it. This means that ALDI doesn’t need to hire employees to gather loose carts. Shoppers get their quarter back when they return their cart.
• ALDI doesn't supply single-use plastic bags. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags. For those who forget, reusable bags are available for purchase at the checkout.
• ALDI stores are much smaller than traditional grocery stores, with approximately 12,000 square feet of retail space.
• Around 90 percent of products sold at ALDI are brands exclusive to the retailers. ALDI guarantees its products are as good as or better than national brands.