Less than 2 weeks! What shoppers need to know before Aldi opens in Bluffton
The first shoppers at the opening of the new Aldi grocery store in Bluffton in less than two weeks will be in line for a special bonus.
One hundred customers will receive a reusable gift bag filled with a sampling of “Aldi Fan Favorites” products and a gift card as part of the Aldi Golden Ticket gift card giveaway program, according to a news release. Shoppers can also enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win a $500 gift card.
The store is located at 1131 Fording Island Road. It will open its doors at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26.
Hours will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
The shopping center that includes Hobby Lobby and PGA Superstore was expected to have a Fresh Market when it was developed in 2016. When those plans fell through, the anchor space sat vacant for years.
Aldi, a Batavia, Illinois-based discount grocer which bills its stores as “no-frills,” also is planning a store in the new Beaufort Station development at the southwest corner of Robert Smalls Parkway and Parris Island Gateway in Beaufort.
What shoppers need to know
Bring a quarter to unlock a grocery cart. The quarter will be returned when the cart is returned at the end of the shopping trip. Aldi says this practice saves it money because it doesn’t have to use employee time to corral loose carts.
Bring your own bags or expect to buy reusable ones. The grocery store doesn’t offer single-use plastic bags, another way it says it saves money.
Make sure you keep your receipt. If for any reason a customer is not satisfied with the quality of a product, Aldi will replace the product and refund it under its “twice as nice” guarantee.
Don’t expect it to be a typical superstore. Aldi’s locations include around 12,000-square-feet of sales floor, smaller than many grocery retailers these days. The store will be stocked with Aldi-exclusive brands, including gluten-free, plant-based and dairy alternative items.
Do expect to find deals. Aldi is known for lower prices, and shoppers will find fresh, organic produce along with a broad selection of cheese and wine at competitive prices. The store will offer deals on limited-time items such as seasonal candles, food and home goods.
