by Matt Wright
The opening of the new Lakeland ALDI has been highly anticipated by many and the grand opening this morning did not disappoint.
With hardly a parking spot to be found, the 9 am crowd wrapped all the way around the back of the building, ready to get in and start shopping. Included among the crowd were residents wearing ALDI paraphernalia including one with a t-shirt proclaiming: “This Girl Loves ALDI.” A quick ribbon cutting was performed first by the ALDI team celebrating the historic occasion before ushering in the large crowd.
According to Scott Martsolf, Director of Real Estate for ALDI, the new location in Lakeland is part of the company’s national expansion plan to become the third-largest U.S. grocery retailer by store count by the end of 2022.
“We are proud of our continued expansion,” said Amy Peters, Mount Juliet division vice president for ALDI. “Opening new stores allows us to provide even more shoppers convenient access to fresh, high-quality groceries at unbeatable prices. We look forward to serving the Lakeland community at our newest location for many years to come.”
Many local officials also attended the grand opening, including representatives from the Lakeland Board of Commissioners, the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce, the Lakeland Economic Development Council, and City Hall staff. One of those attending was former city manager and now Lakeland Commissioner, Jim Atkinson. Mr. Atkinson pointed out how special of a day it was for the city saying, “This is a great day for Lakeland. Aldi is a highly respected grocer that will attract shoppers from all around the area in addition to offering another great shopping option for Lakeland residents. Kudos to those that played a part in attracting Aldi to Lakeland.” Lakeland Commissioner Wesley Wright added, “It was exciting to see the years of effort and planning pay off and walk into a building that residents have been anticipating for some time. The energy was palpable as customers lined up outside.” Mr. Wright told Lakeland Currents the Lakeland Aldi is of higher quality than others in the region and customers will quickly see that difference.
Inside customers quickly filled their baskets and spoke with the ALDI team stationed around the inside of the store. Christian Bejos, an employee of ALDI, was walking the aisles asking customers if they needed help. Mr. Bejos told Lakeland Currents he is the store manager at the South Perkins location but he volunteered his time today to be in Lakeland for the Grand Opening. “We’re a big family,” he said and added this is one of the largest grand openings he’s seen in his time with ALDI.
Economic Impact
The economic impact for Lakeland is also an important part of the story. It’s estimated ALDI will produce approximately $300,000 in annual revenue for the city. Keith Acton, a member of the Lakeland Economic Development Council, said “I am very pleased with the efforts of all those who have worked on this project with the city staff to complete this project including Dexter Mueller, the previous and current Board of Commissioners, and my fellow colleagues on the Economic Development Commission.”
Commissioner Wright backed up that sentiment saying, “We are witnessing a commercial transformation of our town where venues, shops, and amenities will be in our own backyard in a span of several months,” before adding a customary, “It’s a beautiful day in Lakeland, Tennessee.”
