It’s been a bit of a wait but Aldi has finally opened their new location in Surprise!
If you have never been to an Aldi store, you are in for a treat. They have affordable prices, a clean, organized store, and many specialty and seasonal items, in addition to household staples. Aldi is a German grocery store chain that opened their first store in the midwest in 1976. Because of the success of their business, they now have over 2,400 stores across the US.
What makes them unique, successful and a welcome addition to Surprise, especially for families? They focus on the following:
- Smaller sized stores for quicker, easier shopping
- Basic displays using original packaging. This reduces staff time and that savings is shared with you, the customer, in the form of lower prices
- High quality items, locally sourced produce, and curated specialty goods
- Store brands that meet or exceed name brand quality while having a lower cost
After walking through the store, you might get a little bit of a Trader Joes vibe. Not the overall look but the products and pricing. There’s a reason for that! You can learn about their connection here.
What do they carry? They have all the basics covered. Produce, meats, canned and packaged goods, cleaning and kitchen supplies, frozen items, wine, dairy and eggs, and drinks. They also have a good selection of affordable olives, condiments, sauces and garnish type items. It’s common to see German/European style cookies and baked items too. They are usually great! Another feature to keep an eye out for is their section called Aldi Finds which is a fun mish-mosh of different things that change every time you go. All good products and well priced, but it’s just a matter of if you need it. That isle is sort of like going to a yard sale because you never quite know what you will come across!
When you go, there are 2 things you should know for your first trip!
#1 - You Will Need To Have A Quarter!!!!!!! They have a shopping cart system where you must insert a quarter and then that unlocks a shopping cart for you. Once you are done shopping, take the cart back, push the little thing in to re-lock it in the rack, and your quarter will pop back out for you. Tip: Just keep a quarter in your car so you will always be prepared.
#2 - They have a unique second cart - no bagging - self serve bagging system at checkout. Say what? Let me explain, and it’s easier than it sounds.
At checkout, the attendant will not put anything in a bag like they do at most stores. Instead they will simply take your items and transfer them to a second shopping cart they have at the ready. (Don’t worry, you will still get your quarter back.) Once you have paid, you push the cart over to the big counter they have nearby. There, you bag your items yourself. You can bring in your own bags or they have big sturdy reusable bags you can purchase when you are in line. After your groceries are in the car, take the shopping cart back to the store front to get your quarter.
The store is right between Target and Barnes & Noble on Bell, near Grand.
Open 9 am to 8 pm daily
Their other store nearby is at 24665 N. Lake Pleasant Pkwy, in Peoria
