Aldi/TJs history

[jon-nyc]

The Brooklyn TJs had no parking lot (of course) but it was so busy they would occasionally have to stop people from entering, and just letting a few enter as people left. In such occasions the line for checkout would wrap around the inside of the store making cart movement hard (though at that store most everyone used baskets since they were walking home with their groceries).

[jon-nyc]

This post is deleted!

[Rontuner]

Our parents love Aldi - We have a TJ's a block away so we never deal with the parking lot. There is an Aldi moving into the neighborhood maybe 1/4 mile away? Maybe we will give it a try. Also, we have Whole Foods, Jewel, Mariano's, and other more locally-owned grocers all within a mile? Costco a couple of miles away. Lots of choices living in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago!

[Mik]

Aldi is great for certain things. They occasionally have chicken leg quarters for fifty cents a pound, just bought a couple lamb racks there at $10 a pound. They have the best charcuterie, prices on nuts, some very good cheap wines and they are a small footprint. The major grocers here, Meijer and Kroger, are these enormous stores that just takes too long to get through. I do clicklist pickup there.

[wtg]

What @mik said. We usually snag one of their standing rib roasts during the holidays. Choice, not prime, but good enough for us.

Got some really good raspberry sorbet and mango sorbet at Aldi recently.

[Steve Miller]

Aldi is always our first stop, particularly for staples and charcuterie. Their frozen veg and canned goods are 1/2 the price of the big chain stores.
I’ve done side by side taste comparisons on some of the items from there and found no difference in quality.

There are exceptions, however. Anything labeled “Burrman’s” (condiments and sauces) is usually terrible.

[Mik]

I haven't tried any of those, but the larger stores all carry godawful stuff too. I find Aldi's quality to be very good. And cheap.

Aside from that, I enjoy my trips to Aldi. That alone puts it above the big boxes.

[wtg]

@Steve-Miller said:

Anything labeled “Burrman’s” (condiments and sauces) is usually terrible

My experience also.

[wtg]

Haven't been to Mariano's (Kroger-owned) for months. I know it's a Tuesday morning, but the place was deserted. There was a time when the place was packed every day of the week.

I did notice that they've dropped the prices on some items. Doesn't seem to be getting people back in the store.

The grocery business in Chicago is brutal.

[Mik]

It is everywhere. Janet was in grocery wholesaling for 10 plus years. Not a good industry for nice people. The competition is fierce and the players venal.