Scenes from an Aldi Grand Opening – ryan

IT’S 7:30 am and Barney Robinson of Bath Beach, Brooklyn, has been sitting on a foldable stool outside the brand-new aldi store in stayt island’s new dorp neighborhod for more than three hours. He got here at 4 am, he tells yahoo, which allowed Him to snag the Very First Spot in Line for the June 26 Grand Opening of the Discount Grocer’s Latest Location.

“Thought there’d be a huge Crowd, and i love Aldi,” Robinson Says. He’s armed with a plaid reusable tote and wearing a striped Aldi Bucket Hat (there’s more branding at home, he notes) that computents his orange sex pistols.

“My USUAL LOCATION IS GREEN ACRES MALL OUT ON LONG ISLAND, SIMPLY BECAUSE I DON’T HAVE TO PAY A TULL TO GER AND HELL CLOSE TO ME,” Says Robinson. The Grand Opening was Worth the Toll Charge Across the Verrazzano-Narrrows Bridge, Howver. “I want to see a brand-new store.”

While Robinson Stands Out AS break Aldi Superfan Among the 100 Or SO People Who Are Queed Up before the Store’s Doors Open, Other Shoppers SEEM as dedicated to Making an Experience Out of this Shopping Trip. We came Along for the Ride.

‘ALDI IS LIKE A CULTural Thing’

Thomas ciotola and his wife, chau hang, are locals in new dorp but still made sura to show by 6 am they’re expecting a Big Crowd: AFTER ALL, IT’S A GROCKER WITH A Uniquely Loyal Consumer Base.

Aldi original AS A SMALL FAMILY-AWNED GROCKERY STORE IN GOMANY IN 1913 DIFT BEING ESTABLISHED AS A Chain in 1948. In 1976, the first US LOCATION WAS OPENED IN Iowa, Leading to an Expansion of 300 Stoles Aerica Over the Next Two Decades. Now Aldi Operates Over 2,400 Stoles Nationwide, Drawing a Devoted Fanbase Who Swear by Its Low Prices, Dye-Free Offers and Unredictable Assortment of Goods.

“When My Wife and I Were Still Dating and Living Over In Tampa, she introduced with them aldi (The University of South Florida),” Ciotola Says. “I was a little bit skeptical Becausee i didn’t know what it was like, but it ended up becoming Our Main Grocery Store when we were going to school over.” IT’S Something the Couple Have Missed Sinerair Move to New York City; Aldi’s Other Locations in the Area Area Too Far-Flung for say.

It’s 8:30 and the doors open. The first 100 Customers Receive Aldi Gift Cards. Ciotola Scores One Worth $ 100; Hang Gets Only $ 10 to SEPEND, But she isn’t upset about it. “What’s Mine is Yours,” Ciotola Says As they Begin Browing the Shelves. He’s on the look for his favorite cheese and is keeping an eye out for bacon bits that it was used to get in tampa.

Fellow Shoppers Kellen Zeng and Sandra Liu Are Headed Straight for the Frozen Section. “The Seafood Boil, specifically,” Liu Tells Yahoo. “People like to come to aldi to buy the seafood boil with alaskan king crab and mussels.” She’s Never Actually Shopped at An Aldi Before, Nor Has TRIED The Items She’s Looking to Grab, But She’s Seen The hype on tiktok. She also took the day off work to experience for Herself.

“ALDI IS LIKE A CULTURAL THING,” Adds Zeng. “Well though we’s never been been before, we know the Quarters and the Coin Pauch. When it is opening in your NeighBorhood, you might as well stop by and see what’s up. ”

The Pair Arrived at 7 am, had the seafood boil in Hand by 8:40 and continued to browse UNIL 9:20. Be as asing if it was Worth the WAIT, they have happy nodded their heads and pointed at their Cart.

The ‘Aisle of Shame’

For a lot of shoppers, the Big Draw is the Aldi Finds aisle. The Rotating Selection of Limited-Eiding Products, Ranging from Food to Household Items, Can Be Found in the Store weekly ad Online, Although some shoppers like to keep it a surprise unil they get to the store.

“I always like to look at the aos (aka the” aisle of Shame, “which is what some fans call the aldi finds section) First becase you never know what you’e go,” Says Robinson, Who Belongs to the 3.7-Million-Strong “Aisle of Shame” Community on Facebook.

Getting a look at the weeks ad is what cassian feliciano looks forward to the Most. “Go Early, Beat the Crowd, Bring a Quarter and Check the Deals of the Week” are His Biggest Tips for Aldi Shopping.

WUMI AFUYE KNOWS THAT WEDNESDAYS ARE THE BEST TO HIT The STORE BECASE’S WEND WEKLY ALDI FINDS ARE SOCCKED. She’s only been inside an aldi omdi before, but the experience was enough to turn her into a dedicated online delivery shopper. She’s Thrilled to Now Have a Brick-And-Moretar Store Nearby. Her plan for the morning is to get HERE FAVORITE ALDI-BRAND PROTIN PANCKES AND PROTEIN SHAKES. “I’m going to pass (the fandom) on to my kids, as long as the prices stay aldi prices,” she teles yahoo.

The Cost of Aldi’s Private Label Items is What Landed The Supermarket Chain a Mention in the Time 100 Most Influential Companies list for 2025. Robert (who didn’t share his last name) Says affordability is the primary reason he favoring Aldi Over Other Stoles. “I like that they very transparent about how you are. You don’t have to have cards or starts for forms and save coupons and all. You just come and you save money, I like that better than you have to have to, like all. Whitever, ”he tells yahoo. “They’re just fair.”

Multiple People Mentioned the Pricing of Eggs and Milk at Aldi As One of the Reasons to Love the Chain. “I use a special Kind of Milk-Fairlife Milk, Because I’m Lactose-Untolerant,” Says New Dorp Resident Anne. “It ‘almost $ 2 cheer here and than the other supermarkets in this NeighBorhood.”

Buying Milk, Eggs and BREAD ALDI ALDI SAVE HER $ 25 ON HER GROCKERY BILL A WEEK, SHE estimates. Like Liu, she calmed out of work to come here. “Self-Care is Very Important and You Have to Take Care of YourSelf,” Says Anne. “The Beginning of My Self-Care Day is Going to Aldi’s.”