Fresh start for Dixon’s Aldi

DIXON – Dozens of eager shoppers sat in their cars or paced the parking lot Monday morning, waiting for the grand opening of the new Aldi discount grocery – 34 years ago to the day the store first opened in Dixon.

The new 18,000-square-foot store at 1760 S. Galena Ave. will feature everything its loyal customers are accustomed to at the old location, 1387 N. Galena Ave., Vice President Heather Moore said.

“They are used to our quality brand, our products, value and prices,” Moore said.

Connie Reglin, a cashier since Aldi came to town in 1977, has seen a lot of changes over the years. The new store is one of the highlights, she said, waving at customers outside the window moments before the doors opened.

“When I applied, it was the last day they were taking applications. There were stacks and stacks of ’em. And I thought, ‘I’ll never make it.’ But I did, and here I still am.”

Because it also was Reglin’s 34th anniversary, her name was on a celebratory cake and she was given the honor of checking out the first customers of the day.

Once the doors opened, the aisles were flooded with shoppers. The first through checkout were Michelle Spinden and Larry Ide, who were picking up supplies for their church’s youth group.

Customers were treated to various samples and each was given a reusable shopping bag. (Aldi shoppers bag their own groceries as a way to keep costs down.)

“We’ve been through a lot of changes over the years,” Reglin said. “We went from memorizing prices of everything in the store, to scanning items. And I always wonder, how many more tricks can this old dog learn?”

State Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon, came to the opening. In this economy, it’s nice to see any business expand and do well, he said.

“It’s an added bonus that it is happening in my hometown.”

Store hours

Aldi, at 1760 S. Galena Ave., will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.