ALDI to open Columbus store on Nov. 5; Harbor Freight Tools coming in 2016
It won't be long before ALDI opens the doors to its Columbus store at 6301 Veterans Parkway.
The 18,024-square-foot supermarket, which focuses on bottom-line prices and its own brand of items, is scheduled to open Nov. 5, a company official confirmed Friday. The Germany-based discount grocery store chain is an anchor for a neighborhood shopping center coming out of the ground across from Northside Medical Center and Hughston Clinic.
"We're doing everything we can to help them make that (opening date)," real-estate broker Wes Lewis said last week. "They had some delays in construction with getting some of their interior mechanical systems and so forth from their suppliers in a timely manner."
The German retailer is on an expansion spree in the United States, looking to open more than 600 stores and create 10,000 new jobs by the close of 2018. It now operates more than 1,400 stores in 32 states.
Lewis, also senior vice president and asset manager with Columbus-based Adams Brokerage Co., is
spearheading development of the shopping center being built on 8 acres of land that many years ago was home to a Lowe's home improvement store, followed by Bill Heard and Legacy vehicle sales lots.
The balance of the 68,962-square-foot shopping center is beginning to take shape.
Lewis said a second large tenant, Harbor Freight Tools, has executed a lease to fill a 15,378-square-foot spot next to ALDI. That retailer's space is expected to be constructed and open by the second quarter of 2016, he said.
Calabasas, Calif.-based Harbor Freight Tools is a privately owned discount retailer that peddles everything from hand and power tools to generators and automotive shop equipment.
The mail-order and Internet company opened its first brick-and-mortar store in 1980 and has grown steadily since then, picking up pace and doubling its location since 2012 to more than 600 locations in nearly every state.
The nearest store is on Pepperell Parkway in Opelika, Ala.
Lewis said the shopping center property -- legally known as Adams Properties South 2 -- has 30,060 square feet of space available in the main structure that will be attached to the ALDI and Harbor Freight building.
He sees one large or two smaller tenants going there at some point.
"We're not going to build anything until we get a lease signed or multiple leases signed," he said. "We'll wait for the right tenant at the right rent."
There also is room on the land for a 5,500-square-foot standalone outparcel building, closer to Veterans Parkway.
Lewis said Adams Brokerage is in discussions with a couple of restaurants interested in the spot, both having signed letters of intent but yet to ink a contract. Only one will be selected for the site, he said.
At this point, Lewis said he's happy to have the main course for the center in ALDI, which is popular with a devoted following of shoppers. It will employ about 10 people.
Thom Behtz, ALDI's division vice president in Jefferson, Ga., just northeast of Atlanta, confirmed the Nov. 5 grand opening.
He said the Columbus store will use about 10,000 square feet of the 18,000 square feet constructed for display space, with four to five "uncluttered" aisles spaced 8 feet apart, spacious checkouts and "pricing prominently displayed."
ALDI is different from other supermarket competitors. Customers must bring their own bags or purchase reusable ones on site. Those wanting a shopping cart must put a quarter in a machine, then get it back when finished shopping; that keeps staffers from having to retrieve carts. And credit cards aren't accepted; they only take cash, debit and electronic benefit transfer cards.
"Everything we do from our smaller, energy-saving stores to recycled bags and cartons capture the very essence of conservation. As a result, you can save up to 50 percent on the majority of your needs," the grocer's website says.
It points out that ALDI offers more than 1,300 items for sale rather than as many as 30,000 items at typical supermarkets. Many of its products are ALDI's own brands.
The chain, founded in 1942 by the late German brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht (ALDI is short for "Albrecht Discount"), is approaching 10,000 stores worldwide.
The estate of Theo Albrecht also owns the popular Trader Joe's grocery chain.
Until the Columbus store opens next month, the nearest ALDI store is in LaGrange, Ga., at 427 New Franklin Road.
This story was originally published October 18, 2015 at 9:16 PM with the headline "ALDI to open Columbus store on Nov. 5; Harbor Freight Tools coming in 2016 ."