Aldi Grand Opening photos and details

The new Aldi in Garner had their Grand Opening on Thursday, January 22.  As you can see from the photo, there were a lot of people waiting in line to shop at the new store!  Thankfully, they provided hot coffee and danish for everyone waiting.

The "Golden Tickets" they were handing out to the first 100 people were given away long before the store opened. Jessica Moore, a Smart Shopper blog reader and early morning Aldi shopper won $100 in Aldi gift certificates in her Golden Ticket! She had worked 12 hours the day before and was not sure if she wanted to get up and come to the opening. Obviously, she is very happy she did!  I also met Eloise who won a $25 gift certificate!

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at 9 am with various Aldi and Garner Town employees and Garner business representatives. Then shoppers filled the store to snag some great deals on fruit, veggies and more. There were so many people in line to get in that they had to limit the number of shoppers in the store at one time.

I spoke with Aldi District Manager, Stuart Wood about the new store.  He shared that Aldi offers a specialized niche for shoppers who want to save money and don't mind no-frills shopping.  When asked about future expansion plans in North Carolina, he said that they are considering the Apex and West Cary areas for 2016 and 2017. Right now they are expanding into Virginia with multiple stores going into the Richmond and Virginia Beach areas.

The new store has a fresh and open look. The high ceilings and multiple windows are both energy efficient and appealing.

If you live in the Garner area, check your mailbox for an Aldi coupon worth $5 off a $30 purchase. Some readers have reported getting the coupon in the mail this week.

You can see the deals in the Aldi ad for this week at the link above.

9 AM to 8 PM Monday through Saturday

11 AM to 7 PM Sunday.

* ALDI does not accept manufacturer coupons.

* You will need to bring your own bags to bag your groceries. They do not provide any free bags.

* If you wish to use a grocery cart, you will need to deposit a quarter into the cart machine and you will get it back when you return the cart.

* ALDI accepts cash, debit and EBT cards. They do not accept credit cards and checks.

* ALDI stands behind the quality of their products with a Double Guarantee: If for any reason you are not 100 percent satisfied with a food product, ALDI will gladly replace the product and refund your money.

“We look forward to introducing Garner shoppers to ALDI, where they can find the majority of their average weekly shopping list from our exclusive brand products – including fresh meats, fruits, vegetables and bakery items – for up to 50 percent less,” shares Scott Kornegay, Salisbury division vice president for ALDI. “We are committed to bringing ALDI customers the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices in a simple and easy-to-navigate shopping environment.”