City's Grandest Opening in Many Years: Over 200 in line as ALDI's doors open (Updated)

City’s Grandest Opening in Many Years: Over 200 in line as ALDI’s doors open (Updated)

Posted on: September 20, 2024

Local staff members were joined by representatives of nearby ALDI stores and corporate staff for the ribbon cutting.

By Lynn Binnie
Whitewater Banner volunteer staff
whitewaterbanner@gmail.com

Update 9/20/24 @ 8:40 a.m. – Mark Dorn indicates that, “The ALDI flyer not in this week’s Walworth County shopper was in this week’s Whitewater Register and Palmyra Enterprise. It was a separate grand opening section with a five dollar off of $30 purchase coupon. I remain a print subscriber to both the Register and the Enterprise.”

ALDI promised that the first 100 customers for their grand opening on September 19 would receive a Golden Ticket that could be worth up to $100, plus a free eco-friendly bag stuffed with ALDI products. That promotion helped to bring out a line of at least 212 people, as counted by a store employee, before the ribbon cutting at 8:50 a.m. that celebrated the long-awaited opening of the doors of the first free-standing grocery store in Whitewater since 2015. The parking lot was completely full, and as a consequence the western portion of the Walmart parking lot looked like it must be Black Friday.

Larry Kachel indicated that the prior property owner [DLK related] had been in discussion with ALDI beginning in 2017, but the company had concluded that the traffic counts and population did not meet their minimum criteria. Kachel hastened to add that the late Jim Allen’s persistent efforts over many years to attract a store should also be recognized. Tom Howard, ALDI’s regional real estate developer, told the Banner that the city became a viable possibility for a store as a result of the success that the company has recently enjoyed with other stores in rural areas. Jon Kachel indicated that discussions have taken place with a variety of prospects regarding the property located between ALDI and Culver’s, but nothing has come together yet.

Trevor Dimpfl, Kayla Ayres, Olivia Zinanni, and Danielle Swaisgood (L-R) were the first in line.

Those at the very front of the line, four UW-W students, indicated that they had arrived at 4:45 a.m. They said that they were excited about having a second option for groceries. Hailing from the Madison area, they’d already had the opportunity to shop at an ALDI store.

Nancy arrived at 6:30 a.m. and was #41 in line

The one hundredth person in line was Katrina Stark, a university student who was proud to say that she’s from Wisconsin’s first capitol, Belmont. Her just-in-time arrival had been at 7:20 a.m, still rather early for a 9:00 opening. The woman immediately behind Stark described herself as being one of the “disgruntled,” stating that she would have been among the chosen if there hadn’t been a few line crashers. She and others felt that the numbers should have been passed out earlier. The woman was among those who had successfully dissuaded the store employee from giving a number to one of the interlopers.

A previous Whitewater Banner post provides many details about the store. Here we need to correct a couple of previous misstatements and offer some new discoveries:

Correction regarding WIC (a supplemental nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children): The Banner erroneously stated that ALDI accepts WIC EBT cards. This is not true. ALDI does not accept WIC as a payment. We regret this error. ALDI does accept the Quest EBT card from the Wisconsin FoodShare program. [This program has also been known as food stamps or SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.)]

Curbside pickup will be available starting October 3. The signs on either side of the banner designate reserved stalls for pickup.

Correction regarding curbside pickup orders: We previously indicated that the store would not offer pickup of online orders. It turns out that this service will be offered beginning on October 3. Orders may be placed through the website [aldi.us] or app. There are three parking spaces in front of the store that are designated for customers with pickups. Delivery service is expected to soon be offered by Instacart, which already provides service from the Janesville ALDI.

Beer and ale — New Glarus doesn’t seem to have a prime location.

Even “sibling store” Trader Joe’s Two Buck Chuck sells for more than $2 in most states now.

Tobacco/Alcohol: The store doesn’t sell any tobacco products. It does sell beer and wine; however, the beer section primarily features ale. There are no national brands of beer, but New Glarus is featured.

Pricing: As with many chain stores, the prices may vary from one location to another. Additionally, the Banner was told that a number of prices may change every Thursday based on market conditions. On Thursday, gallons of 1% and 2% milk were priced at $1.99; whole milk cost $3.05. A dozen eggs sold for $1.06. A pound of butter was $1.99, with a limit of four. In Janesville on the same day all of the milk was priced at $2.66 and eggs were $2.99. Though it was not indicated, Whitewater’s low prices may have been grand opening specials.

It’s Oktoberfest time, so the ALDI Finds [“Aisle of Shame”] features a number of German desserts. Deutsche Kuche means “German cuisine,” and this cake is imported.

European products: A longtime ALDI shopper states that she enjoys trying the various European products that are offered. Currently, a representative stated, there are more German products in stock than usual in celebration of Oktoberfest, and German products are especially featured once a quarter.

“ALDI Finds” [“Aisle of Shame”] fans will be impressed that the frozen food section is at least twice as large as the section in the Janesville store.

This sign is on the non-frozen “ALDI Finds” section. In this store that section isn’t right across from the frozen FINDS section. Items in “The Aisle of Shame” are typically not restocked when sold out.

The non-frozen ALDI Finds always includes many seasonal decorations.

Checkouts: The self-service registers only accept credit/debit cards (perhaps also FoodShare EBT.) It was indicated that there will also always be an attended cash register. A regional manager stated that virtually all staff are cross-trained, and in a given shift an employee might run a register, stock some shelves and do some cleaning.

Electric carts: Though there is not yet an electric cart for shopper use, when the Banner told the district manager that one of our readers had expressed that he needs to use one, the manager stated that he would request that at least one be provided.

Restrooms are located at the front of the store.

What happened to the Walworth County Smart Shop flyer? For years this “shopper” that comes in the U.S. Mail has included an ALDI flyer. Strangely, at least some local residents did not receive the flyer in this week’s mail. The district manager is looking into this.

A card with three coupons for $5 off a $30 purchase was being distributed. The first coupon is good from September 25 to October 1; the other two, in the succeeding weeks.