[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.

[Taltarzac725]

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 would sometimes go there after donating blood when a big red bus with One Blood on it was parked there. Or, after seeing a movie at the Old Mill Playhouse.

I will miss a lot of the Winn-Dixie offerings.

[PJ_Smiley]

Winn Dixie is still open at Pinellas Plaza. I guess since an existing Aldi's is just down the street (Trailwinds on 466A), they aren't converting and will keep the store in Pinellas Plaza a Winn Dixie for now.

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Michael 61]

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 have been disappointed with the limited selection there, and when I shop Aldi, I have to make a second stop at Publix to buy what I couldn’t find at Aldi.

[ROCKETMAN]

One correction to a post. Employees no longer multi task. If you want to be hired just for checkout, that will be your job. Unloading trucks, stocking another career path.

[VApeople]

My father used to say "I've seen a lot of changes in my life and I've been against every damn one of them".

[Bay Kid]

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.

I do miss Sweetbay. The sign and store were very cool.

We are very lucky to have so many grocery choices. Good, bad and indifferent.

[billethkid]

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.

A tired excuse for many that could not make it work.

The rent was/is known up front when the decision is/was made to open in the first place.

Convenient dodge!

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by billethkid

A tired excuse for many that could not make it work.

The rent was/is known up front when the decision is/was made to open in the first place.

Convenient dodge!

Convenient doge or unfortunate reality or the reason for empty storefronts?

In any case, some Winn Dixies are changing to Aldis both inside and outside the Villages. Some Winn Dixies are remaining Winn Dixies both inside and outside the Villages. It doesn't seem like the Villages has anything at all to do with this decision.

What will be interesting to see is whether Aldis survives at Lake Sumter. With two stores outside the Villages and soon to be one within, will golf cart accessibility outweigh the higher rent?

[BrianL99]

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.

Win-Dixies was sold. Nothing to do with The Villages.

[bagboy]

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.

A 920 store chain filed for bankruptcy. Poor sales, sliding credit rating, pressure from vendors to be paid, etc.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by billethkid

A tired excuse for many that could not make it work.

The rent was/is known up front when the decision is/was made to open in the first place.

Convenient dodge!

Winn Dixie was not exactly making money store wide and suspect the one in LSL was a loser especially when the developer got his cut.