Aldi to open stores in Richmond area

Aldi will make its debut in the Richmond market this week with stores in Henrico County and Colonial Heights scheduled to open on Thursday, April 23.

The German-based discount grocer will join an already crowed market, but it brings its own distinctive brand of shopping.

Aldi’s stores are smaller than many competitors, typically 16,000 to 17,000 square feet. Its no-frills approach means customers must put down a quarter deposit to use a shopping cart, money that is given back when the cart is returned.  There’s also a fee for shopping bags, typically 10 cents, if people don’t provide their own reusable bags.

Customers can expect to find brand name foods among Aldi’s offerings, but not as many as in a superstore. 

Aldi’s push into Richmond includes several locations. It recently leased 17,000 square feet of space at Chippenham Forest Square at 7319 Forest Hill Ave. in the city, according to Commonwealth Commercial Realty.

The stores opening Thursday are located at 1776 North Parham Road in Henrico and 465 Charles H. Dimmock Parkway in Colonial Heights.

Aldi also plans locations in the Staples Mill Shopping center in Henrico, in the Hanover Village shopping center in Hanover County, at a site off the Boulevard near West Broad Street in Richmond  and at the intersection of Robious Road and Mall Drive in Chesterfield County.