ALDI originally opened the Hamilton store, 1431 Main St., in 1995, White said.
“We’re bringing the old store up to new prototypical standards,” White said.
The store has been under construction for five weeks, with crews doing the brunt of work at night. Upgrades include a redesigned storefront, raised ceilings, new refrigeration and mechanical units, better use of natural lighting, and more environmental friendly building materials, White said.
It’s a “significant” investment, he said.
Building costs, not including plumbing, electrical or heating, air conditioning and ventilation work, were estimated to cost about $175,000 according to the building permit approved by the city.
German grocery store operator ALDI has 14 Cincinnati-area stores including locations in Hamilton, Lebanon, Middletown, and West Chester Twp. A store typically has seven to 10 employees.
“We do have an aggressive remodel plan for all of Cincinnati,” White said. Work begins next on a Union Twp. store in Clermont County on Clepper Lane.
All local stores will be remodeled to some extent during the next two to three years, with the exception of Middletown and Lebanon. Those locations were opened more recently in 2009.
Now carrying more than 1,400 food choices, older ALDI stores need more shelf room, White said.
“Our product line has adjusted to meet modern customer needs and desires,” he said.
ALDI is stepping up its pace of new store development in the U.S., with a goal of opening 650 new stores in the next five years, Supermarket News reported in December.
Plans call for the discount grocer to open approximately 130 new stores per year, compared to a pace of 80 stores a year in recent years. The overall store count would grow 50 percent by 2018, according to the trade publication’s report.
ALDI is also launching a natural and organic private brand to be known as SimplyNature.
Currently ALDI Inc. operates more than 1,200 stores in 32 states.
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