Tuesday, April 27, 2021

[EXCLUSIVE] Aldi Scores Space for New Store Near Mall of Georgia

Planning documents indicate that a new Aldi grocery store is coming to Buford. Although the documents identify an address but no specific suite, and despite their being no suite large enough to accommodate the new grocer currently available, ToNeTo Atlanta has confirmed that the new Aldi will open in place of the current 2nd & Charles at Marketplace at Millcreek.  

2nd & Charles, a subsidiary of Birmingham, Alabama-based Books A Million, sells used media ranging from CDs and DVDs to video games, books, collectibles and more.  The nearly 24,000 square foot store opened as an OfficeMax before being renovated into 2nd & Charles in 2016.  According to an employee at the retailer, there are reportedly plans to "move" the store nearby and reopen by the end of the year.  (The former Pier 1 and Babies R Us nearby are small and large potential candidates.) 

Aldi, which already operates about seventy stores in Georgia and more than two dozen in the greater metro Atlanta area, announced plans in February to open about 100 new locations nationwide in 2021, with a focus on Arizona, California, Florida and the Northeast.  Overall, the company operates more than 2,000 stores nationwide.  

Like its German rival LIDL, Aldi often prefers freestanding stores but, as LIDL recently discovered, one must at times be willing to backfill existing inline boxes to penetrate desired markets.  Aldi has in recent years opened in a portion of a downsized Best Buy in Tucker as well as portions of former Sports Authority stores in Buckhead and Kennesaw, among others.  

Aldi joins a growing list of grocers looking to open in the area.  Lidl has stores planned for Lawrenceville and Sugar Hill, both a few miles from the upcoming Aldi store.  Sprouts Farmers Market is also opening nearby with a new store planned for the mixed use development The Exchange @ Gwinnett, the 100+ acre project that just saw its first openings on the opposite side of I-85 from the Millcreek property. 

Are you pleased to see Aldi opening in Buford?  Where would you like to see 2nd & Charles reopen?  What is your primary grocery store?

Please share your thoughts below. 

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I'm so excited for the aldi store here in Buford to open! When there is an opening date please let us know!

Unknown said...

Yes very happy to see this store coming to Buford. Would like to know opening date. 2nd and Charles should take over the old Pier One building,it would be nice not to lose it all together.

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