Aldi
Audio By Carbonatix
After many hungry years in this state, Trader Joe’s finally came to Colorado in 2014…but it has never had an Aldi, the global discount grocery-store chain that’s popular in the Midwest and Southeast.
That will soon change: The company has announced plans to open more than 180 stores in 2026, Aldi’s fiftieth anniversary year, with many of them coming to Denver and Colorado Springs. But while the announcement included plenty of numbers, it offered no specific locations.
Our readers took care of that, though, using the Westword Facebook post of the news to offer suggestions for where Aldi should open spots in Colorado…as well as what newbies should look for at the stores. But first, Rey offers this:
I never understood why people move to other regions expecting it to have everything they had at home. I thought the whole point of moving somewhere different was to experience new and different places. I guess that’s just me.
Counters John:
Aldi represents competition to the duopoly we have now. Every market they have entered, they forced competitors to lower prices. This is amazing news for Colorado.
Adds Estaven:
No frills, no ads, no BS and some of the best grocery prices in the USA. Bring it to the Pikes Peak region.
Says Lorie:
Can’t wait! I hear great things about Aldi’s from friends in other states. I live in a grocery-store desert. Two crappy, small King Soopers and one small Safeway. Kroger could have easily built a Marketplace store at Peoria and Parker Road, but instead rebuilt a store that’s so overcrowded you can barely get a cart down the aisles. My other choice is what people here refer to as Sh*t Soopers on Mississippi and Havana.
Observes Chris:
There’s an empty King Soopers off of Arapahoe and South Holly that could definitely be a good fit.
Notes Brian:
There is an empty standalone store at Hampden and Happy Canyon in southeast Denver that is ripe for the picking. It was gonna be a Marczyk. Then it was going to become an Amazon Fresh store. Then it went back up for lease. Clearly the landlords suck — but the building is basically turnkey for them.
Comments Kyle:
If they’re smart, they’ll put one up in Wellington/Windsor area. I know plenty of people who would drive from Wyoming/Nebraska to shop…
Says Czeslawa:
Omg, so excited I can’t wait for the Denver store. I can’t wait to find out every location.
Responds Whitney:
Okay, let’s do Publix next. They would dominate!!!
Adds Jaz:
Now do HEB.
Notes Rob:
If it was Wegman’s, then that would be big news.
Warns Barbara:
Watch out for the aisle of shame. You’ll find at least three items you just have to have but didn’t know it until you entered the AOS! Aldi forever!
Counters Chris:
Forget produce unless you really need it. Hit the meats (limited), and especially the cheeses; the frozen, reach-down-in-the-pit area; and the discount aisle. The Aldi aisle is just an impulse buy in a type Willy Wonka world. Thank me later.
That doesn’t scare us; we can’t wait to see what everyone’s talking about. Have you been to an Aldi store? What did you think? Where should one go in metro Denver. Post a suggestion or email your thoughts to editorial@westword.com.
