ALDIs near Enclave gate Dabney
 

It appears the Winn Dixie is closing in Lake Harris Square Leesburg. I stopped by the other day and the shelves were almost bare. The coolers were mostly empty and produce was next to non existent. Signs were everywhere 15% off. The store is closing for remodeling in the month of February. The folks in the Dabney Enclave should be happy.

Just wondering why anyone would be happy to have one less grocery store near them. Does the parking lot border the Enclave?

"closing for remodeling"

According to a Leesburg paper, this is another of the Winn Dixies that are being converted to an Aldi.

I haven't visited the area but Google Maps shows a Publix just across the street.

Yes
 

Yep, there is a Publix along with several businesses just across from Wendy’s and the plaza. We use the Ace Hardware, Advanced Auto etc. The whole area is about 2 miles down on 470 where it intersects 441.

Shhhh... you'll give away our secret. Next you know, they'll find the post office!

Thanks for the heads up, Not to stop. Not a fan of Aldi

That’s the truth!

Not a big fan of Winn Dixie as they’ve become a clone of high priced Publix, especially an older location like the Okahumpka store.

But Aldi is certainly a step in the less desirable direction in terms of quality, selection, service, and appearance.

It’s sad when Super WM is the preferred grocery option around here. But it is what it is.

There to stay
 

I do get it, but ALDIs is not leaving anytime soon. It will be good to place some pressure on Publix to keep things reasonable in price. Besides, much of the area is lower income and the store will be welcomed by those who dominate the population in that area.

I don’t know how happy I’ll be. Never been in an Aldi because I never have a quarter. I wasn’t a huge fan of Winn Dixie. Meat quality seemed subpar as did produce. Publix is way overpriced. Anyhow it is nice we have options. I’m in lake Denham, not Dabney nor the Enclave. Of course most Villagers think we have to take the turnpike to shop anywhere.

470 intersects 27 - not 441.

27 merges with 441 about 6 miles north.

True
 

Yes, it is easy to generalize both as the same since they do merge as one in Leesburg. Thank you for the clarification.

Yes
 

You are correct, I’ve done this myself and I am a stickler for facts.

Aldi is not equal to a Winn Dixie

Granted I was only in Winn Dixie a couple of times but found it to be a dump. Never shopped at Aldi up north only Wegmans, Market Basket & Trader Joe’s. . Down here we’ve been to Aldi to supplement Publix.Not a fan of prices at Publix or their meat. To me Aldi is a Trader Joe’s lightish. It seemed better than Winn Dixie but smaller

WD Leesburg closes 2/9/25.

Plans are to take half the current space and convert it to an Aldi. Other half will be leased to another business. Liquor store stays next to new Aldi. No word on if it will be branded Aldi or some other name. I have seen plans for store.

The other WD nearby not converting due to being too close to existing free standing Aldi's.

Aldi has a formula they are using to determine if store is converted, run as current banner or sold. Free standing Winn Dixies will mostly be sold or released to other businesses. WD's in strip malls that are vibrant or in growing areas will convert if not to close to another Aldi. WD's in dying strip malls are in trouble.

Seems this purchase was as much a chess move to prevent Lidl from expanding quickly as they reboot their efforts in the US as it was for Aldi to gain locations. As around the Villages, Aldi was well established in the WD foot print.... Lidl was non-existent and facing a choice of pulling out of the US or investing in their expansion outside of the mid-Atlantic/Atlanta areas. Cost of buying WD, converting some locations to Aldi and getting rid of the rest by sale, sub-lease or not renewing leases is cheaper than building new free standing locations in these areas from the ground up and defending against a new competitor.

Over half the Winn Dixie's will not be converted to Aldi stores. Aldi has no interest in running WD as an ongoing grocery chain long term. If they did, they would be keeping profitable locations under the Winn Dixie banner rather than converting them to Aldi stores. The stores not targeted for conversion are not viable enough to sustain a profitable Winn Dixie, which was barely making it with those locations open.

I would love to have a Lidl near Eastport! It would get almost every person south of Warm Springs!