The Tale of Two Aldis

German discount grocer Aldi created a buzz in the Chicago area earlier this month, opening a new location in Forest Park while simultaneously facing backlash from residents over a store closure in West Pullman.

On November 7, Aldi celebrated the grand opening of a new store in Forest Park, Illinois, located at 215 Harlem Ave. The location, which was previously a Bed, Bath & Beyond that closed in March 2023, was met with excitement from local residents. Shoppers in the area called the new Aldi store a “game changer” for the village, as it brought an affordable grocery option to the community, according to a report in the Forest Park Review.

However, just days after the Forest Park store opening, Aldi closed a store in the Far South Side neighborhood of West Pullman, according to Block Club Chicago. The store at 821 W. 115th St. shut its doors on November 10, less than three days after the Forest Park opening, leading to disappointment and frustration among the local community. This closure follows another in Lincoln Park on the North Side, which took place a month earlier.

In response to these closures, Aldi reassured Chicago residents in an email to Block Club Chicago, stating that the closures of the West Pullman and Lincoln Park locations were “unique situations” and not part of a larger trend. The company emphasized its commitment to the city, highlighting its presence with more than 30 stores within Chicago and over 150 stores in the greater metropolitan area. Aldi also mentioned that it employs nearly 6,000 people in the area and is expanding its workforce with plans to hire 13,000 associates as part of its ambitious goal to open 800 new stores by 2028.

Despite Aldi’s reassurances, Chicago Ald. Ronnie Mosley expressed disappointment, saying that the company had previously promised that the West Pullman store would remain open. His statement reflected the community’s broken trust, as residents were left without the affordable grocery option they had relied on.

The closure in West Pullman occurred just as a Save A Lot grocery store opened nearby, at 10700 S. Halsted St., further complicating the situation. This Save A Lot location was one of six stores in the city renovated as part of a $13.5 million subsidy deal with the city to revitalize disrepair-prone stores, further highlighting the dynamic grocery competition in the area.