Very excited that South Tampa now has an Aldi!
I'm not exactly an Aldi person, but I am glad to have a nearby option. I think it is neat that they operate under germanic efficiency, including needing a quarter to borrow a shopping cart and having to bag one's own groceries (into bags that I supply and/or purchase).
The store is brand-spanking new. It's in the location of the old Barnes & Noble. I'm not sure if the parking lot has great flow, but on the day I visited, it was fine. As they were still in soft opening phase, they are not running at 100%, and that includes not having beer/wine yet. Sigh.
My understanding is that Aldi has a bunch of random brands and inconsistent availability of products. So it's unlikely to be a standalone grocery destination for the average meal-planning household. But it's a fun place to visit to see what kinds of deals are available! I've read that Aldi is a great place to get unusual wines, cheese, and seasonal items. Certainly on my visit, I found about 10 different types of Advent Calendars (anything from the standard chocolates to cat treats to scented candles). I also found refrigerated lava cakes on special and seasonal flavored coffee creamers. read more