[Rodneysblue]

Winn Dixie is still open in Spanish Springs just a short ride away. Also Publix and Walmart.

[Normal]

Originally Posted by CFrance

That's interesting, because back when we were spending winters in Key West, the Publix was absolutely filthy, and Albertson's was very clean. It had the most amazing homemade rosemary olive bread, too.
But then it got sold, so I don't know what happened to it. We were there from 2004 to 2009.

Anything new construction as long as it isn’t a bank like Citizen’s First, a Publix or another gas station is a good thing. For Publix to dictate everything in the area is ridiculous. There are other chains in Florida.

[RickyLee]

Originally Posted by kansasr

Oh the horror of living in a third world community....having to go 4 miles further for more "upscale" grocery shopping. And my Publix was also out of 1% milk this week the one day I was there. I actually had to make a separate trip the following day to get milk. Such a tough life.

Living in Paradise comes with a price

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by bagboy

We went to Albertsons in Key West (now closed) a few years ago. It was absolutely the filthiest business of any kind I had ever been in. It was so bad in fact, we walked back out without shopping and I've not been in another one since. Apparently some are better than others

Maybe it was key west? With 5 o’clock somewhere attitude?

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Normal

I would be for an Albertsons instead of seeing more Publix stores.

Wow, I thought Albertsons when out of business 30 years ago? Must of downsized out of areas I lived in?

[jmaccallum]

The fall of Winn-Dixie had absolutely nothing to do with The Villages nor any lease agreement with the Developer.

Winn-Dixie has been struggling since 2004 when it announced losses of $79.5 million in just one quarter. Since then Winn-Dixie has gone into Bankruptcy THREE times - in 2005, 2009 and again in 2018.

Bottom line, Winn-Dixie got beat by its competition - mainly Walmart - as Winn-Dixie positioned itself as a like-kind low priced grocer. Publix, on the other hand, went up-scale - differentiating itself by offering products and services not available at the lower priced grocers, albeit at a price, yet thus avoiding direct competition.

Also, Aldi did not buy Winn-Dixie. Aldi Sud bought Southeastern Grocers, Winn-Dixie parent company. And for those of you clamoring for a TRADER JOE’S in The Villages, BOTH Aldi and Trader Joe’s are owned by the same folks - the Albrecht family. Aldi is actually an abbreviation for Albrecht Discounts.

[Note: And for those who want to get technical - yes, there are two Aldi companies - Aldi Nord & Aldi Sud - created when the Albrecht brothers couldn’t agree on whether or not to sell cigarettes in the stores. Aldi Nord owns Trader Joe’s. However, both are private companies (and I do mean very private, here) and both are owned by Foundations of the Albrecht family and heirs - one of the richest, secluded and non-public families in Germany.]

[Normal]

Originally Posted by jmaccallum

The fall of Winn-Dixie had absolutely nothing to do with The Villages nor any lease agreement with the Developer.

Winn-Dixie has been struggling since 2004 when it announced losses of $79.5 million in just one quarter. Since then Winn-Dixie has gone into Bankruptcy THREE times - in 2005, 2009 and again in 2018.

Bottom line, Winn-Dixie got beat by its competition - mainly Walmart - as Winn-Dixie positioned itself as a like-kind low priced grocer. Publix, on the other hand, went up-scale - differentiating itself by offering products and services not available at the lower priced grocers, albeit at a price, yet thus avoiding direct competition.

Also, Aldi did not buy Winn-Dixie. Aldi Sud bought Southeastern Grocers, Winn-Dixie parent company. And for those of you clamoring for a TRADER JOE’S in The Villages, BOTH Aldi and Trader Joe’s are owned by the same folks - the Albrecht family. Aldi is actually an abbreviation for Albrecht Discounts.

[Note: And for those who want to get technical - yes, there are two Aldi companies - Aldi Nord & Aldi Sud - created when the Albrecht brothers couldn’t agree on whether or not to sell cigarettes in the stores. Aldi Nord owns Trader Joe’s. However, both are private companies (and I do mean very private, here) and both are owned by Foundations of the Albrecht family and heirs - one of the richest, secluded and non-public families in Germany.]

What most of us understand is that”Sud” means south and “Nord” means north. What a coincidence I guess.

[J1ceasar]

Salmon is one item out of 50,000 and probably within 50 cents or a dollar of anywhere

I love the smoked salmon or the Atlantic trout at Aldi's.

I also love the fact that I don't have to walk two miles to find something in a bigger store
Cashiers are the fastest I've ever seen

probably

Originally Posted by asianthree

I agree with OP the loss of a true grocery to Aldi wouldn’t fit our grocery needs, even for a quick necessity.

Then again anyone remember Sweetbay in LSL, until it was bought by WD? I loved that store staff was knowledgeable, great deli, well stocked.

Now LSL gets to shop out of a cardboard box. My guess is Kroger trucks will be far more prominent around LSL.
I am confused why would anyone buy salmon from Aldi, when Fresh Market has better quality in the same price range.

[Just jimmy]

Originally Posted by swooner

Perhaps Winn Dixie's decision could have had to do with the rent charged by The Villages. Wouldn't be the first time that happened.

The whole chain was sold to Aldi.

[bagboy]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Maybe it was key west? With 5 o’clock somewhere attitude?

[jimmy o]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

I miss the Supermarket at Lake Sumter. One of the advantages of Living in the Lake Sumter area of the Villages has been the Supermarket. Most of the Village food markets are located on the major roads. Lake Sumter was fortunate to have a real market since 2006.

The ALDI procurement and decision to close Winn Dixie in favor of an Aldi store a year later leaves us with a gap. It also leaves us with something less than a true supermarket. No Deli, no butchers, no produce manager, bakery. It is likely that ALDI has determined that their decision will be economically correct.

Whenever ALDI opens, we will have lower prices, but a limited choice of brands. Meats and cheeses all prepackaged. The ALDI model has no specialty careers but rather a crew of multi tasked employees they can bounce around to operate cash registers, shelf stocking, floor washing, toilet cleaning, trash removal etc. It basically a box store.

They can't even get types of potato chips in the right box. Went to an ALDI on 441 today for a container of No Fat milk. None available. No 1%. Had to settle for 2%. I don't think anyone there cares. They just said they get what they get.

I go to ALDI for some items such as milk, oranges , bananas etc. Certainly not for no name cold cuts or cut cheese in a plastic sealed pack.

I personally think that stores like ALDI are great for a major hi-way but I will miss the supermarket at Lake Sumter.

I too miss the WinnDixie, but…As I recall announcement, it’s going to be an Aldi with limited WinnDixie supermarket. Before being upset with what we think is coming, we should wait and see what actually is coming. We might actually like it.

[kkingston57]

Have been seeing posts for years regarding rent charged by the developer. Does anyone have objective information which would sow that they charge more than others and if so how much higher are they?

[kkingston57]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I agree. There are about 10 Publix stores in The Villages area, and each one has gross sales of about $40 million per year. I would be very surprised if they are sharing any of this revenue with the landlord. It would make a lot more sense for them to buy land and build their own stores. In the north, Giant builds their own stores and even owns their own construction company. These large stores may have a landlord, but they certainly don't need one.

Only person(s) who can answer that ? is the person(s) who have seen and read the lease.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by kkingston57

Only person(s) who can answer that ? is the person(s) who have seen and read the lease.

I agree, but they probably won't show you the lease.

[UpNorth]

Cashiers are the fastest I've ever seen


So true. I think they are trained for speed. I've ben to a few ALDI stores that also have self-serve check-outs. Great when you only have a few items. Hope the include them at LSL.