anyone go to the Grand Opening at ALDI today? Your thoughts?
PS3D said:
I went today, after the crushing morning crowds. Reasonably well stocked, fast checkout all things considered, a LOT of people, carts free that day, free samples, and free tote bags.
It's the first supermarket of any sort in town in over three years and the first all-new brand since the early 1990s. What's not to like?
PS3D said:
I went today, after the crushing morning crowds. Reasonably well stocked, fast checkout all things considered, a LOT of people, carts free that day, free samples, and free tote bags.
It's the first supermarket of any sort in town in over three years and the first all-new brand since the early 1990s. What's not to like?
The one does fine here despite being not far from either a Walmart or Target.FlyRod said:
Given their proximity to Walmart, well...prolly not gonna make it.
The Aldi here is much, much cheaper on certain things.FlyRod said:
I'm surprised. Walmart seems to have a much better selection and prices that are at least comparable.
I know that Aldi does have some bizarre following...a cousin of mine in Massachusetts who is, to put it mildy, extremely wealthy, only shops at Aldi.
They are an old client of mine. They have been around for many years and have thousands of locations. Not a fad at all.The Original AG 76 said:
ill be curious how many of you will go back once the " newness" wears off. I have one literally in y back yard on Barker Cypress in Houston . Went during opening weekend and then a few weeks later.
Second trip didn't have a quarter in my pocket so had to go in and get change from the 1 cashier working. Got my stuff then realized I had to buy. adamn bag and do my own bagging...I see no reason to go thru this. The stuff aint special and the prices aren't that great. Just some fad and I won't return. BTW..neither are my neighbors, we just aren't the types to put up that Austin type crap in order to save a few dollars
FlyRod said:
Given their proximity to Walmart, well...prolly not gonna make it.
You get the quarter back when you return the cart.Heismenberg said:
What's the whole deal about bringing a quarter to Aldi? Do you have to pay a quarter to rent a grocery basket?
It's true of a lot of places, though, and not a unique phenomenon. Relatives in other states often remark how the new places get swamped.australopithecus robustus said:
Just always amazed by how other locals are so enamoured with new businesses like they've never been out of town before.
We used to have a discount grocer on the corner of Rosemary and Texas that was supposed to be super cheap. Was it a Jewel T? Don't remember. Anyways, hopefully Aldi will last longer.TKDMom said:
The model, with "renting" a shopping cart for a quarter and then begging your own groceries reminds me a lot of Tom Thumb back in the mid-80s.
Yes. It became Texas-T in the 1980s and then Save-a-Lot briefly after that. That was before my time, though...techno-ag said:We used to have a discount grocer on the corner of Rosemary and Texas that was supposed to be super cheap. Was it a Jewel T? Don't remember. Anyways, hopefully Aldi will last longer.TKDMom said:
The model, with "renting" a shopping cart for a quarter and then begging your own groceries reminds me a lot of Tom Thumb back in the mid-80s.
I went in there a couple times. I recall they carried generic food in white cans with simple text telling you what was inside. GREEN BEANS. CORN. etc.PS3D said:Yes. It became Texas-T in the 1980s and then Save-a-Lot briefly after that. That was before my time, though...techno-ag said:We used to have a discount grocer on the corner of Rosemary and Texas that was supposed to be super cheap. Was it a Jewel T? Don't remember. Anyways, hopefully Aldi will last longer.TKDMom said:
The model, with "renting" a shopping cart for a quarter and then begging your own groceries reminds me a lot of Tom Thumb back in the mid-80s.
The parent company of Jewel-T, Jewel Companies of Illinois, pioneered the "generic" brand. (Publicity shot via Pleasant Family Shopping). While Jewel-T was divested, the company was bought by American Stores in the early 1980s, which ran the Skaggs Alpha Beta in town (and later rebranded that to a Jewel-Osco itself).techno-ag said:I went in there a couple times. I recall they carried generic food in white cans with simple text telling you what was inside. GREEN BEANS. CORN. etc.PS3D said:Yes. It became Texas-T in the 1980s and then Save-a-Lot briefly after that. That was before my time, though...techno-ag said:We used to have a discount grocer on the corner of Rosemary and Texas that was supposed to be super cheap. Was it a Jewel T? Don't remember. Anyways, hopefully Aldi will last longer.TKDMom said:
The model, with "renting" a shopping cart for a quarter and then begging your own groceries reminds me a lot of Tom Thumb back in the mid-80s.
remember the days when you could get a $20 loan from the MSC desk also ? I believe all you had to do was show your student ID. It was a savior. There was also a Stop N Rob at Plantation Oaks Apts where you could write a check for $5.00 over purchase. We would buy Keystone beer for about $1.05 a six pack and get $5.00...parrrrrty weekend baby !!!!UmustBKidding said:
You have not lived until you had nothing in your pantry except generic white can black stripe jewel t spam.
One of the two time I was broke in college before atm. Missed getting to the MSC check cashing desk before they closed.