Ramblings of a Grocery Store Junkie: Peg Meets ALDI…

As a self-described “grocery store junkie”, ALDI was on TC’s must-visit list — especially a brand spanking new one. Read on! —the editor

I took Peg to the new ALDI (third in the Las Vegas region) for my birthday present. This built from scratch store, in the same parking lot as Swig! – a soda pop chain (and the editor’s favorite, Peet’s Coffee) was sweet! It had big wide aisles and ample supplies. I found what I was looking for at reasonable prices.

What’s an ALDI??

Similar to Trader Joe’s, ALDI almost exclusively sells its own private label products rather than the name brands you commonly find at other grocery chains.

In their press release, ALDI regional vice president Shawn Eddy stated, “At our new Las Vegas-area ALDI stores, shoppers will find that every decision we make, from our product selection to store layout, is to provide our customers with the best products at the lowest possible prices of any national grocer. As shoppers look for better ways to stretch their dollar, ALDI is providing the Las Vegas area with easier access to quality groceries at affordable prices.”

Now for Some Context…

I had some false starts during the past year, especially when it came to my grocery store market in Las Vegas. The Albertsons/Kroger merger got scuttled, and the possibility of Piggly Wiggly, via the merger partner, C&S Wholesale Grocers, ended. Other than the entry of Grocery Outlet Bargain Market to town, food shopping was boring and more of the same. Last year I took Peg to Winn-Dixie, when visiting Florida, and to Smart and Final here, thinking it was less busy to deal with me, Peg and the crowds.

But a delayed birthday present finally was gifted last week, when after two doctor’s appointments and a late lunch at BJ’s Brewhouse, that Peg, Mr Jey, (my travel buddy) and I entered into the brand new ALDI Market in Las Vegas.

Yes, I’m a Grocery Store Junkie…

Now to know me, I am a grocery store junkie. Taught by the best, my Mother. When Mom visited Vegas for their 50th Wedding Anniversary, a stop at the supermarket across the parking lot from Black Bear Diner, Smith’s, was on her agenda. She was impressed, especially since she had never shopped a Kroger owned store. She got some white cheddar cheese to snack on later back at her room at the Rio. It was the family blessing.

Back in Madison NJ, Mom had a routine for shopping trips: A&P, otherwise know as the Stampede Store, for meat and sale items, Cumberland Farms for milk, Esposito Bros Butcher for square shaped hamburger patties and sliced Italian bread, and the bulk of the shopping at the Hickory Square Shop-Rite. THAT Shop-Rite, the home of the Can Can Sale.

For many years after that, the food ads were always perched next to her chair at the dining room table, marked with x’s next to the coupons she needed to clip or items she needed to get on sale. Her affection for Shop-Rite followed her to the Jersey Shore, enough to carry a cooler every trip to the Rio Grande Shop-Rite, 10 miles away from the shore house. When they moved closer to us in Atlantic County, the Shop-Rite got closer, taking over the newish Stop and Shop that ws closed and taken over by, you guessed it, Shop-Rite. Add the fact her pharmacy was located IN the Shop-Rite, it was required visiting weekly. Such torture…

This woman instilled the grocery gene in me and my siblings. Hence my grocery shopping junkie status. It may sound lame, but it is an art form if it is done right.

Not My First ALDI Rodeo…

This was not my first trip to ALDI. Rewind back to the early 90s, when ACME closed its small market in Pleasantville,NJ. They took over the space and filled it with a low assortment of goods. Yup, just a budget grocery store. Cash only. Self bag (with bags you had to pay for). Shopping carts needed to be released with a quarter.

In Shop-Rite loving New Jersey, it lasted only 2 years.

Fast Forward —Filling a Niche…

In a world that embraced Walmart Supercenters, Costco, Whole Foods Market, and many competitors, Aldi stepped up to the occasion and became a national powerhouse. Same basic formula, but with an up marketed its product line and introduced a line of special merchandise known as ALDI FINDS.

I shopped them in Florida when visiting friends and family, where they purchased a competitor to increase their store count. I was impressed with the better selection and a vast improvement to other limited assortment stores like Save-a-lot.

Peg Weighs In…

Peg here. The grand-opened, built-from-scratch ALDI was very accommodating. I noticed ample handicap parking spots. There were electro-carts, but we didn’t use one. TC had a plan that worked. That means, honestly, I have no clue if those carts require a quarter as well.

Anyway, thanks to Mr Jey, TC and I made it into the store where we wheeled around (wheel chair) while he pushed the cart.

Not pretty but it did the trick. TC loaded up on his protein shakes, at better prices. He was quite happy!

Back to you TC!

What Would the OG Store Junkie Think?

The layout was very basic, and if my mother was still alive, she would be able to navigate the store, except for the quarter for the shopping cart, and the self bagging of groceries. After seeing a woman return a cart in front of me without placing it in the coral, and claiming her quarter, older generations may not be able to adapt.

That’s a Wrap!!

I’ll wrap up this essay with this… Now that I’ve had the in store experience, I’m good. The current arrangement I have with my roommates works ( I schedule my groceries for Saturday morning delivery when they can help).

If you are mobility challenged, I understand that the workers will accommodate and help (especially with the self bagging).

I’m glad Peg and I got to experience a brand new grocery store. In doing so, I have maintained my “grocery shopping card” (it’s a store junkie thing).

Thanks for reading!