TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Grocery Chain Plans To Open On Fletcher

ADVERTISEMENT

By LENORA LAKE

Tribune correspondent

Published: June 21, 2008

UNIVERSITY AREA - A German grocery chain, known for low prices and a philosophy of "incredible value every day," is planning a store west of the University of South Florida.

Aldi, which is opening several locations in the Tampa Bay area, plans a store at University Plaza at Fletcher Avenue and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. The Tampa Bay area stores are part of the company's Central Florida expansion, announced in August 2006.

Founded in Germany in 1948, Aldi is short for Albrecht Discounts and owned by Theo and Karl Albrecht. The company has grown to more than 5,000 stores worldwide.

The U.S. division, opened in 1976 in Iowa, has more than 900 stores in 28 states, according to the company's Web site.
Aldi stores usually are about 17,000 square feet, compared with about 40,000 square feet for a typical grocery.

The stores carry about 1,300 of the most frequently purchased grocery and household items, almost all under a private label. They also carry produce and meats.

David Behm, the Aldi vice president overseeing Florida operations, said Tuesday that the Fletcher Avenue location probably will open in late October.

"It is part of a plan to open 20 to 25 stores in the Tampa Bay metro area," Behm said, adding that plans continue for stores in Town 'N Country, Brandon, Plant City, Lakeland, Clearwater and Largo.

U-Save Supermarkets closed its store at the University Plaza location in September, and the space has been divided: Office Depot will open in one part and Aldi in the other.

Behm said the company chose the location because "It is an attractive center" with a variety of stores and is in a densely populated area.

The store probably will employee 12 to 15 people, he said.

While the selection may vary slightly at Aldi stores, all have a trademark: the rental of a grocery cart for 25 cents.

Shoppers deposit a quarter to unlock a cart and the money is returned when the customer returns the cart. The store does not provide shopping bags for free. Customers can bring their own or purchase them.

The Aldi location is in the University Area Enterprise Zone, where tax credits are available for remodeling costs, equipment purchases and hiring of enterprise zone residents.

Behm said his company was aware of the zone designation, but it was not the deciding factor in choosing the location.

Julian Garcia, executive director of the University Area Community Development Corp. and a member of the Enterprise Zone Advisory Board, said the store "is the type of thing the enterprise zone is trying to attract to bring services to our residents."

Tribune correspondent Lenora Lake can be reached at (813) 865-4851 or llake@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT