Aldi Rings Up Chicago-Area Remodels

Aldi, the Batavia-based discount grocer, isn't just adding new stores. It's also upgrading older locations with additions that go beyond new signage and a fresh coat of paint.

The Aldi at 2600 N. Clybourn Ave. was set to reopen Thursday after an 11-week closure, and a $1 million, floor-to-ceiling renovation.

The upgrades come as Aldi encounters increased competition from other discounters such as Save-A-Lot and Walmart as well as traditional grocers like Jewel and Dominick's, which are trying to reconnect with customers who flocked to discounters during the economic downturn.

Aldi is what's known as a "small format" store, a fraction of the size of a traditional grocery, offering primarily private-label products. But its popularity has increased in recent years, aided by pledges of 40 to 50 percent savings.

To read the rest of the story, please go to: Chicago Tribune