Let me tell you, my first experience of Aldi wasn't quite one to write home about. I visited my first Aldi at their Thruway Mall location shortly after it first opened. Children marching down the aisles unsupervised, canned items with dents in it...I decided to pass after walking just two aisles.
Used to the mega-store experience with a lot of choice, I stepped into this particular Aldi to get some milk and bread on the way home from work. I didn't feel like walking all the way to University Plaza from UB, and I definitely didn't feel like walking back to the train station to get the subway heading home. I'll manage with a quick side trip into the place that sits where Ponderosa used to sit. You bastards!, I thought.
Number one, I walked in the door and started down the first aisle. Yay! I see milk in the near distance. I saw the price, too. I wipe my eyes. Do I see the price of a GALLON of milk for under $2.00? I look over the dates and see at least a two week expiration date. Score.
I start walking across the back of the store, sneaking stares at other items. Do my eyes deceive me? They ARE a lot cheaper than Tops! And really, I don't go out of my way and buy Kraft cheese. I'm an off brand kinda person on certain things. Dairy, being one of them. I think to myself, give it a try. If I don't like it, I don't buy it again (to my delight, the stuff was just fine). I get to the bread section and look over the bread offerings. Nice price! I get that and some packaged bagels. The same intention, I buy. If I no likie, I don't buy again.
I go to the register, and get treated by a person that actually breathed, AND smiled. Another score. I hate awkward waits in line with a person that doesn't acknowledge that I even exist.
That was in October. My first month on Hertel in September found me hitting the Dollar General, or Dash's Market. Both, nice places. Similar employee enthusiasm. However, the price is what's getting me to continue shopping at Aldi. A trip to Aldi allows me to afford a treat by getting out once a week in my neighborhood...something I love to do for Hertel Avenue.
I can get a goat cheese, arugula and cherry tomato frozen pizza for under $5.00; I can get celery, carrots, and broccoli for under $1.00/pkg (at least HALF off of the competition) and walk out of there with some money still in my pocket. Yes, I'll still go to Dash's, Tops and Dollar General for certain things. But for basic week-to-week trips, it's gotta be Aldi.
And this place is CLEAN. Also, don't forget your own bags, and you pack yourself. read more