Gather your reusable shopping bags and dig up a quarter. The doors to Fairhope’s ALDI will finally slide open Thursday, March 2, at 9 a.m.

Construction on the Eastern Shore location began in January 2022 but suffered numerous delays mostly due to weather. Heather Moore, Loxley regional vice president for ALDI, told Gulf Coast Media at a ribbon cutting for the ALDI Distribution Center in February that the building was ready to go but rain delayed the completion of the parking lot and landscaping. 

The Fairhope ALDI joins more than 1,000 new stores of the German, discount supermarket chain that have opened throughout the U.S. over the past decade. It is the third in Baldwin County with stores already in Foley and Daphne.

The first 100 customers in the doors Thursday will receive a gift bag filled with a sampling of products and a gift card as part of the ALDI Golden Ticket gift card giveaway program. Shoppers can also enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a $500 ALDI gift card through opening weekend, March 2-5.

“Our stores are designed to make grocery shopping smarter, faster and easier, and we’ve been voted the price leader for six years running,” Moore said.

The Fairhope ALDI will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 10101 County Road 48. For more information and listings of job openings, visit www.aldi.us.

What makes ALDI intentionally different? 5 things to know

1. Shoppers participate in the savings

The savings start before customers enter the store. Depositing a quarter to unlock a shopping cart in one way ALDI saves shoppers money. ALDI doesn’t need to hire employees to corral loose carts, and customers get their quarter back when they return the cart. ALDI also asks shoppers to bring reusable bags and has never offered single-use plastic bags – a sustainable policy that leads to savings passed on to customers.

2. Online shopping and curbside pickup

Too busy to get to the store? All ALDI locations offer delivery, and curbside pickup is expanding rapidly nationwide. Visit www.shop.aldi.us to place an order.

3. Quality

ALDI is so confident in its products, such as its fresh, organic produce delivered daily, that every item is backed by its “Twice as Nice Guarantee.” If for any reason a customer is not 100% satisfied with the quality of a product, ALDI will replace the product and refund it.

4. Store size

ALDI stores are designed for simplicity and efficiency, packed with the products shoppers love. A typical floor-plan is approximately 12,000 square feet of retail space, making it easier to shop than larger grocery stores.

5. Low-price leader                                 

The Retailer Preference Index Report has ranked ADLI No. 1 on price for six years running.