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ALDI remodels Lansing, Illinois, location

Hundreds attend Grand Reopening

ALDI Lansing, Illinois
Dozens of people lined up outside the Ridge Road ALDI on Thursday, August 31, to be among the first to celebrate the newly completed remodeling. Giveaways, coupons, free samples, and friendly staff helped create a party-like atmosphere. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)
LANSING, Ill. (August 31, 2017) – By 8:00am, dozens of people were lined up outside the newly remodeled ALDI on Ridge and Wentworth. By 9:30am, the parking lot was full, the extension lot was full, and shoppers were parking in alleys and side streets. “We’re thrilled with the turnout!” said ALDI’s Phil Kieffer, Divisional Director of Store Operations.

ALDI had anticipated the crowd, and extra staff were available to answer questions, hand out shopping carts (which required no quarter for the day), and generally streamline the flow of traffic inside the store. Attention to those kinds of details helped transform the atmosphere from potentially stressful into a party-like celebration. “This is exciting,” laughed one shopper as he rolled his full cart past an employee and into the crowded parking lot.

Optimized space

ALDI Lansing, Illinois
Lansing’s remodeled ALDI offers an expanded selection of organic produce. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)
Although the remodeling did not increase the square footage inside the store, customers who have been shopping there since the “soft opening” in mid-August report that the store feels bigger. Kieffer attributed that feeling to the new lighting, fresh graphics, and rearranged shelving that help optimize the space. In response to customer requests, the remodeled ALDI offers an expanded selection of organic produce, gluten-free options, and fresh fish.

Smart shopping

Kieffer explained that ALDI’s niche in the competitive retail marketplace is to provide premium groceries at affordable prices. “Our customers will be able to save 50% on their groceries without ever compromising on quality,” he said, standing in the expanded produce area. “We want shoppers to have more money in their wallet when they leave.”

ALDI Lansing, Illinois
Lynn Cartwright and Carol Walsh of Lynnie Ques Airport Bar & Grill pay attention to all the sales papers. They love shopping at ALDI because of the good deals they can get on high-quality produce and basic kitchen supplies like baggies. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)
Lynn Cartwright, owner of Lynnie Ques Airport Bar & Grill, appreciates that commitment to both quality and savings. As a Lansing small business owner, she is very conscious of costs, but she knows she can’t afford to lower her standards on the signature dishes her restaurant serves. Lynnie does a lot of Lynnie Que shopping at the Lansing ALDI. “I get all my produce here,” she said. “All my lettuce, all of my lemons and limes, all of my ‘baby buns’ for the five-for-five sloppy joes and pulled pork. The produce is the freshest. Everything’s fresh.”

Beyond Lansing

ALDI Lansing, Illinois
Phil Kieffer, ALDI’s Divisional Director of Store Operations, was available during the August 31 celebration to answer questions about the remodeling project. (Photo: Melanie Jongsma)
The remodeling at Lansing’s Ridge Road ALDI is part of ALDI’s nationwide commitment to keep their brand updated and responsive. There are 1,600 ALDI stores across the United States, and Kieffer explained that all are being updated in some way, though not necessarily to the degree the Lansing store was. “We opened in Lansing in 2009,” recalled Kieffer, “and already we’re doing a refresh—what a difference it makes! But in all the changes that we’ve made, one thing always stays the same: We will always offer premium groceries without having to pay premium prices. And really, that’s why we’re growing.”

The August 31 celebration included giveaways, drawings, and product samples. ALDI extended the promos into the month of September with a series of $5.00 coupons.

ALDI is located at 3602 Ridge Road. Store hours are 9:00am–9:00pm, Monday through Saturday, and 9:00am–7:00pm on Sundays.

Melanie Jongsma
Melanie Jongsma
Melanie Jongsma grew up in Lansing, Illinois, and believes The Lansing Journal has an important role to play in building community through trustworthy information.