Customers line up March 5 for the 8:25 a.m. grand opening of Aldi at 15324 Max Leggett Parkway.
Eugenie Bargum was first in line at Aldi.
About 250 people lined up for the grand opening.
Grey skies but no rain greeted Aldi customers March 5.
ity of Jacksonville Office of Economic Development Director Kirk Wendland and store employees prepare for the grand opening ceremony.
Aldi District Manager Jeremy Hill, left, and Director of Operations Bob Schmalz hold the ribbon for Store Manager Chase Klinedinst.
Aldi Store Manager Chase Klinedinst abandoned her scissors for a box cutter to cut the grand opening ribbon.
City of Jacksonville Office of Economic Development Director Kirk Wendland watches as customers enter the new Aldi.
Customers soon filled the Aldi after it opened.
The scissors didn’t work, so Aldi Store Manager Chase Klinedinst switched to the box cutter.
Klinedinst cut the ribbon March 5 to open the 11th store in Northeast Florida for the Germany-based discount grocer.
The store at 15324 Max Leggett Parkway is next to Hobby Lobby and near River City Marketplace.
Store hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Aldi District Manager Jeremy Hill said the chain is expanding rapidly, planning to open about 10 stores a year in the region that encompasses North Florida.
In January, Aldi said it was taking five locations from the Lucky’s Market chain that went out of business.
Hill said he would have loved to take the Neptune Beach location, but it didn’t happen. Publix is taking it.
More than 250 people lined up for the grand opening, with gift cards handed to the first 100 to enter. On March 6, shoppers can enter a sweepstakes to win a year’s supply of Aldi produce.
First in line was Eugenie Bargum, who said she lives nearby. She said she got in line at 10 p.m. March 4 to be first customer.
“I enjoy Aldi and I enjoy the people, they are very nice,” she said.
Bargum said she also shops at Publix and Winn-Dixie, looking for what’s best for her budget.
Another Aldi is in the pipeline for Jacksonville. The chain is building a store at 3650 Philips Highway at a construction cost of $1.95 million where Wells Fargo previously operated at Philips Highway and Emerson Street.
It also intends to open a store at Durbin Creek Crossing in St. Johns County.
Aldi says it operates more than 1,900 U.S. stores in 36 states.
