[jmaccallum]

It’s not a surprise that the LSL Winn-Dixie is being converted to an Aldi. Stores the size of Winn-Dixie can’t be profitable with only Villages patrons. Not enough roof-tops. The LSL Winn-Dixie needed to also draw customers from outside The Villages. Ever wonder why there is no Villages Gate south of 466 nor north of 466A on Morse Boulevard? Yep, they tried but it never really worked. The LSL Winn-Dixie location is tucked too far inside The Villages with no easy access from a major thoroughfare. Villagers might think Morse Blvd. Is a major thoroughfare, but it ain’t. In that vein, I would guess LSL Winn-Dixie had quite the favorable Lease - but still not enough.

Will Aldi be profitable at that location - probably much so. Because of their size, approximately 25-30% of a Winn-Dixie, and their modus operandi - drop your quarter for a shopping buggy, get your items, bag ‘em and get out, oh and get your quarter back - they don’t need as much traffic. But if they do get anywhere near the traffic that LSL Winn-Dixie had then the Aldi will be very profitable.

It will take time for people to become accustomed - different items, different brands - but there is documented significant savings at Aldi versus Winn-Dixie. The savings along with convenience of location will most likely end up winning a lot of Villagers “Hearts and Minds.” Before you disagree, just look at their Social Media following.

[CFrance]

Way off topic, but if anyone has a dog on the green bean diet, frozen are 96 cents a bag, steam in the bag. No additives.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by 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?

The Lease the District signed with the Developer for the new District Office in Brownwood, is public information. We all know the Developer controls the District.gov operation. In comparison to other office space in the general area, the District is paying way more than market rate for the space.

As for the retail space the Developer leases, there's no such thing as "higher than others". It's all based on the market and the volume of sales and profit margin the user can generate.

Leasing retail space is different than leasing Office space (or Industrial or otherwise).

Office space can be compared based on location, convenience, parking availability, aesthetics, etc. Retail space has only ONE criteria ... how much revenue can be generated, in the opinion of the Lessee. If the numbers work, the business leases the space. If they don't work, the space stays vacant.

In other words, for retail space in The Villages, there are no absolutes nor objective criteria. How much money can be generated from the space and how does that base cost, fit into the business' revenue/profit model, is the only analysis.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Honestly do you buy Everything at Aldi? Never enter a grocery because Aldi has all of your grocery needs?

The loss of a grocery for some isn’t an issue because they can drive elsewhere. However there are some TV residents, who are cart bond, easily get lost due to unfamiliar surroundings.
The loss of WD will be a very big deal to them.

My main grocery store is Colony Publix. I will surely miss Winn Dixie for those times when I am in or very near LSL to pop into a regular grocery store for what ever I need. I've been to a couple of Aldi stores and they do not have so many of the items I purchase on a regular basis. Oh well.

[coffeebean]

~~~

[BrianL99]

I live about a mile from the former Winn Dixie at LSL.

6 days a week, I go through that parking lot, coming and going to a golf course.

It sure was convenient to stop and pick up something for dinner or sugar or cream for my morning coffee.

I've been back in The Villages since October, it's nearing 4 months that I've survived the inconvenience.

On the positive side, I'm never tempted to buy some crap piece of steak they always seemed to have on sale at Winn Dixie. Anything is a major improvement on what's there right now. I'd settle for a convenience store.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

I live about a mile from the former Winn Dixie at LSL.

6 days a week, I go through that parking lot, coming and going to a golf course.

It sure was convenient to stop and pick up something for dinner or sugar or cream for my morning coffee.

I've been back in The Villages since October, it's nearing 4 months that I've survived the inconvenience.

On the positive side, I'm never tempted to buy some crap piece of steak they always seemed to have on sale at Winn Dixie. Anything is a major improvement on what's there right now. I'd settle for a convenience store.

Honestly thought WD didn’t start clearing shelves until late November early December.

[Garywt]

I do feel for the OP as ALDI is a useless store in my opinion. I know people like it but it is not for me to unorganized and not enough products or selections.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Garywt

I do feel for the OP as ALDI is a useless store in my opinion. I know people like it but it is not for me to unorganized and not enough products or selections.

Lots of us like it and do understand the layout of the store

[Papa_lecki]

Originally Posted by 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?

When the real estate group of Winn Dixie searcher for space, they know the price per square foot and all the other details of the lease for all the commercial real estate space both inside and outside the Villages (i.e. owned and not owned by the developer).

If the real estate group thought the economics of not being in the Villages was not good for their shareholders, there would be no grocery stores inside the Villages.

Same goes for the restaurants, the retail stores, and the fast food places.

[coffeebean]

I was in an Aldi a few days ago at dinner time and was very disappointed in the messy appearance of the store at that hour. There was stuff all over the floor and the boxes that hold the products were strewn all over the place. It looked as if there was no attempt at keeping the store presentable. I'm so used to walking into any Publix at any time of day and the stores always look pristine. Am I spoiled by Publix?

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

I was in an Aldi a few days ago at dinner time and was very disappointed in the messy appearance of the store at that hour. There was stuff all over the floor and the boxes that hold the products were strewn all over the place. It looked as if there was no attempt at keeping the store presentable. I'm so used to walking into any Publix at any time of day and the stores always look pristine. Am I spoiled by Publix?

There's no expectation of Aldi's to look like Publix. If they're just opening, things may be in disarray; I don't know. We have plenty of supermarket choices here, though.

[Laker14]

I used to shop frequently at the LSL Winn Dixie. As COVID waned, but prices were rising like crazy and nobody knew what anything cost, I was shopping there and needed 5 lbs of King Arthur Bread Flour and a jar of yeast. The bright yellow cardboard sign declared the flour was $7.49, and yeast was $6.49, with exclamation points, as if this was an amazingly great set of prices. I wasn't sure what it would cost elsewhere, but I chose not to buy them. At Publix in Colony, $5.98, and $3.49, and at the Walmart Neighborhood Store, each item was even 50 cents less than Publix. I expect to see a 5 or 10 percent higher price at Publix, but 36% was a lot more than I was willing to spend for the convenience of shopping at that Winn Dixie. I don't think I ever set foot into that store since that day.