Sat
Mar 14 2009
02:11 pm
Knoxville has its first Aldi Food Store
By: redmondkr

Knoxville has its first Aldi

I visited the new Aldi food store for the second time today and took a small camera. They are using some pretty innovative ideas to reduce overhead so customers can enjoy such luxuries as eggs for 49 cents a dozen and skim milk for $1.99 per gallon.

The new store is on Schaad Road next to Home Depot's garden center but they say they will be opening a new one at Turkey Creek soon.

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The first thing you notice (besides the crowd) is the fact that you can't have a grocery cart unless you are prepared to give up a quarter. You'll get it back when you complete your mission and return it to the storage area. This is no-frills shopping but there are some pretty good buys here, they even have some name brands such as Del Monte and Ocean Spray available.

When you get to checkout, you remove your own items from the cart and place them on a conveyor. There you may also buy large plastic bags (there are free cardboard boxes also available). Very friendly staff seated on comfortable stools scan your goodies and place them back into a cart. You then proceed to a 'bagging bench' to bag them or put them into your boxes. I just took the cart to my truck and transferred them to a plastic tote.

Take the cart back to the storage area and get your quarter back.

And who wouldn't enjoy getting a quarterback?

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MDB's picture

One thing Aldi is good for...

Submitted by MDB on Sat, 2009/03/14 - 2:38pm.

... is shopping for a food pantry.

My partner lives near one, and I regularly go there to shop for the food pantry my church supports.

I can get a Prius-full of groceries for under $100.

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StaceyDiamond's picture

carts

Submitted by StaceyDiamond on Sat, 2009/03/14 - 4:13pm.

I read that they require a refundable quarter to use and return a cart. That seems odd, I wouldn't imagine many people stealing carts, unless its a place like Felini.

Mello's picture

it is not about stealing carts

Submitted by Mello on Sat, 2009/03/14 - 4:27pm.

It is about not having to hire kids to collect carts from the parking lot thus keeping the overhead low. It is really fun to see the confusion on the faces of first time Aldi shoppers.

The thing with Aldi is you can get what you need but perhaps not what you want. It was too bad that Oak Ridge was not able to get their Aldi site approved last year.

Brian A.'s picture

Never heard of the place.

Submitted by Brian A. on Sat, 2009/03/14 - 4:26pm.

Never heard of the place. Are the store brands as good as they claim?

There's definitely demand for cheap food these days.

I'm not sure I get the quarter shopping cart deposit, either. If someone wants to steal a cart, is a quarter going to deter them?

Brian A.
I'd rather be cycling.

Mello's picture

one kind of mustard, one kind of sugar

Submitted by Mello on Sat, 2009/03/14 - 4:38pm.

We shopped Aldi's for more than ten years before we landed in Knoxville. Canned potates are canned potatoes, powdered sugar is powdered sugar. Anything that is frozen/precooked is still frozen precooked stuff. They do however get special loads of name brand things every so often.

And as a long time fan of Aldi's I will say I never even attempt to go to their store around the first of the month as the lines can be very, very long.

It will be interesting to see what local and seasonal produce they handle in Knoxville.

Thag13's picture

Oak Ridge has a UGO store,

Submitted by Thag13 on Sat, 2009/03/14 - 5:38pm.

Oak Ridge has a UGO store, that uses a simular theme to cut costs.

Milk isnt 1.99, but its usually a dollar cheaper than
Wallmart or Krogers.

Bread is usually 1.29 .

Its very uneven what gets in, but I save quite a few bucks shopping there.

I would shop at this store in a heart beat.

My wife works about 6 mins. from Turkey Creek, I might have her stop in when it opens

No Matter Where you go, There you Are!!!!

GDrinnen2's picture

My folks were out at Aldi

Submitted by GDrinnen2 on Sat, 2009/03/14 - 8:36pm.

My folks were out at Aldi this afternoon. Dad was mumbling about the fire marshall and crowds. I took it the lines were pretty long, but then again he's never proven to have what you might call patience when it comes to shopping.

What was the crowd like Redmon? I'm excited about this store, but I inherited antsy-ness when it comes to lines.

redmondkr's picture

It was pretty congested when

Submitted by redmondkr on Sat, 2009/03/14 - 8:49pm.

It was pretty congested when I was there today about 11 o'clock. The first aisle past the entrance was packed and there was a lot of congestion around the refrigerators. The store is also laid out in such a way as to funnel shoppers in the desired direction and prevent exits that avoid the checkout lanes. The checkouts moved pretty briskly though even with this number of people.

I don't plan to visit again except during weekday afternoons until the 'new' wears off.


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Elrod's picture

Aldi is big in Chicago

Submitted by Elrod on Sat, 2009/03/14 - 9:55pm.

It's a very cheap grocery store. Generally low quality but low prices too. Not sure why they've expanded here, or why it's exciting that they did so.

Stick Thrower's picture

Not knocking it, but

Submitted by Stick Thrower on Sat, 2009/03/14 - 10:49pm.

I grew up in NW Illinois, so I'm kind of puzzled by the excitement too. I suppose there'd be the same kind of initial buzz up north if Krystal opened a restaurant there.

Turkey Creek sure seems like a bizarre place for an Aldi's...

ATSF616's picture

Pretty common up north

Submitted by ATSF616 on Sun, 2009/03/15 - 8:02pm.

I grew up in NW Illinois, so I'm kind of puzzled by the excitement too.

We've had 'em in central Indiana for 15 years or so. I've never really been tempted, because I try to steer my trade to union-organized shops wherever possible, and Kroger is the only one in my area -- that I know of, anyway.

GDrinnen2's picture

Knoxville hasn't had a new

Submitted by GDrinnen2 on Sun, 2009/03/15 - 12:46am.

Knoxville hasn't had a new grocery store in awhile. . . as far as I know. In fact, I can't even remember the last time a new grocery chain entered the market. The fact that it is a discount store, and we are in the middle of a recession is fueling the interest as well.

edens's picture

I can't even remember the

Submitted by edens on Sun, 2009/03/15 - 10:49am.

I can't even remember the last time a new grocery chain entered the market.

Bi-lo

MDB's picture

Royal Ahold

Submitted by MDB on Sun, 2009/03/15 - 2:08pm.

Royal Ahold has all but ruined Giant here in Maryland. I only do my shopping at Giant because its convenient now.

Giant used to be locally owned, and were excellent corporate citizens. As Inspector Clouseau once said, "not anymore".

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Mello's picture

In defense of generic brand America and this German company

Submitted by Mello on Sun, 2009/03/15 - 3:50pm.

The excitement is in the fact that there is a new and affordable option in town. It may not be an option some of you need, but others certainly do.

A plus for seniors is that Aldi's does not require a four mile hike to the paper towel aisle that the megamarkets do.

Up Goose Creek's picture

four mile hike

Submitted by Up Goose Creek on Sun, 2009/03/15 - 4:59pm.

This is the reason I refuse to shop at the Bearden Kroger.

My quality of life has improved since I started (trying) to shop for basics once a month. Add in a few trips to the Co-op and fruit stand and there you have it.

____________________________________
"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse."

Rachel's picture

This is the reason I refuse

Submitted by Rachel on Sun, 2009/03/15 - 5:03pm.

This is the reason I refuse to shop at the Bearden Kroger.

I go in there occasionally and it really is ridiculous.

However, it will be a cold day in you know where when I subject myself to the trip that ends in the horrible traffic of Schaad Road. And I don't do Turkey Creek.

So I guess I'm out of luck on Aldi's unless they decide to build a store closer in.

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