PORT ORANGE — The nation’s fastest-growing grocer is opening not one but two stores in Volusia County on Dec. 18.
Aldi on its website Thursday, Dec. 4, announced the opening date for its new store in Port Orange at 4025 S. Nova Road. It also plans to open a store in Ormond Beach that same day at 353 W. Granada Blvd.
Both stores are in converted former Winn-Dixie supermarkets that will open immediately following a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:45 a.m.
It is the first time Aldi has opened two stores on the same day in Volusia County. Thursday’s announcement came as a surprise because the chain had not previously included the second Port Orange location on its list of anticipated 2025 store openings.
Port Orange Aldi still needs some final touches
Al Tischner, chief building official for the City of Port Orange, on Thursday afternoon confirmed that the Aldi store at the Riverwood Shopping Center on the corner of Nova and Spruce Creek roads is near completion, but not quite ready to open just yet.
“Their target date is (Dec.) 18th, but there are still some fire safety concerns to be addressed,” he said. “We just had a two-hour meeting with them today. They hope to get a TCO (temporary certificate of occupancy) on the 12th that would allow them to stock the shelves and train the staff to open on the 18th. They’re probably going to work around the clock to get it done. We’re willing to work with them, but it’s up to them.”
How big are the new converted Winn-Dixie-turned-Aldi stores?
The new Aldi at the Riverwood Shopping Center will be the chain’s second in Port Orange, where it opened a store on the other side of Interstate 95 at 5500 S. Williamson Blvd. in late July.
Unlike the Aldi stores opening in Port Orange and Ormond Beach on Dec. 18, the store on Williamson at The Shoppes at Summer Trees (across from The Pavilion at Port Orange) is a brand new standalone store that was built from scratch.
At 23,239 square feet in size, the new Aldi at Riverwood Shopping Center is roughly half the size of the Winn-Dixie that closed in March. The remaining space will be made available to lease to other businesses.
The same goes for the former Winn-Dixie in Ormond Beach that closed at the end of 2024.
Why is Aldi converting former Winn-Dixie stores?
Aldi acquired the Jacksonville-based Winn-Dixie chain in March 2024, and after selecting the locations the German-based discount grocery chain wanted to keep to convert into its own stores, it sold the remaining Winn-Dixie stores to a consortium of private investors in February of this year. Winn-Dixie continues to be based in Jacksonville.
Aldi in May opened a store in Deltona that was converted from a Winn-Dixie. It has plans to convert the Winn-Dixie supermarkets in Daytona Beach Shores and DeBary into Aldi stores as well.
What is Aldi planning for opening day, Dec. 18?
Aldi will give out laminated, numbered “Golden Tickets” worth up to $100 to the first 100 people in line on opening day for both its new stores in Port Orange and Ormond Beach.
In addition, the first 100 customers will receive a reusable eco-friendly shopping bag containing free Aldi products. Aldi tote bags will be given out to others in line until supplies run out.
A raffle will also be held for a $500 gift card for those who enter between Dec. 18-21. Customers can take part in the raffle by looking for signs in the store, scanning the code, and entering the required details.
Don’t forget to bring your quarter for the shopping cart
Aldi charges a rental fee of 25 cents for its shopping carts. Customers get their quarter back upon returning the cart.
It will be the third new grocery store in Port Orange this year
In addition to the two new Aldi stores this year, the city of Port Orange is also welcoming another new grocery store: the Key Food Supermarket that’s holding its grand opening celebration on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at 3818 S. Nova Road.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Aldi announces earlier opening date for second store in Port Orange
Reporting by Clayton Park, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
