Aldi Moves Closer to Opening in Lindenhurst

The building is completed and the fencing is down in the shopping center on Park Avenue, but Long Island's newest Aldi location in Lindenhurst still has some construction its needs to finish on the interior before it can open to the public.

"There's some construction that still needs to be done on the back end of the building," Matt Schapiro, district manager for Aldi on Long Island, recently told Lindenhurst Patch.

He was on site when Patch stopped by on the first day of Spring to check out the progress of the location's construction that started last year at this time.

"We're raring to go, but there are things that still have to get done," Schapiro said.

He didn't have a opening date, and as of Thursday afternoon Aldi officials at the Connecticut office where Schapiro's based still didn't have an opening date set yet - although when a search is done for the Lindy store on the Aldi website here, a grand opening date of May 2013 is listed along with the store hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Initial buzz in the shopping center and on Facebook when the fencing recently came down on the location put the opening in early, then late March. However, Schapiro said there were the inevitable construction delays one would expect on a project of this size and scope.

In the meantime, he and his fellow Aldi officials said they're working to open the new location "soon."

There's also a sign on the front door of the Lindy location indicating Aldi's still hiring, with the pay starting at $12.25 per hour.

"Visit aldistorejobs.com for more information," it read.

Schapiro confirmed Aldi's still hiring, and anyone wishing to apply could go to the website or stop by the Aldi store in Bay Shore at 1851 Sunrise Highway.

He said those hired as cashiers would start at $12.25 an hour, and there's room for advancement in the company with the shift manager training program. He also said store manager trainees could make $25 per hour.

The Lindenhurst Aldi store represents the next location in the supermarket chain's expansion into the New York area. It currently has stores in Bay Shore and Lake Grove.

Aldi entered the New York Metropolitan market with a Rego Park, Queens store that opened in early 2011. It also opened a store in the Bronx in late 2011.

“In 2012 Aldi anticipates opening more than 80 stores, further expanding our footprint within our newer, existing markets,” Bruce Persohn, Aldi South Windsor, Connecticut division vice president, told Patch last April.

The Lindy location will continue the chain’s tradition of carrying a selection of lower-priced, private-label brands. These include its Lacura high-end skin care line, Moser-Roth premium chocolates and Fit and Active Better-for-You products.

To further keep prices low the retailer doesn't accept credit cards, and it uses what's known as a cart-deposit system that requires shoppers to insert a quarter to obtain a cart.

Shoppers will also find better-known national brands, as well, but that assortment continually changes. Persohn noted last year Aldi offers “opportunity buys” in a section near the back of the store that are available to shoppers “while supplies last.”

He also said, "All Aldi products are backed by our double guarantee. If for any reason a customer isn’t 100 percent satisfied with any Aldi product, we’ll gladly replace the product and refund the purchase price.”

Aldi is a division of global operator Aldi Group, Muelheim, Germany, and currently has about 1,215 stores in 32 states, generating annual United States sales of an estimated $7.3 billion.

Related Coverage:

• Aldi Moves Closer to Opening in Lindenhurst
• Biz Beat: A Look at Lindenhurst Businesses
• Biz Beat: Aldi Holding Hiring Event for Lindy Store
• Talk Back Poll: Aldi to Open in 2013
• Aldi Mum on Details of New Lindenhurst Location
• Aldi Supermarket Coming to Lindenhurst
• Islip Notebook: Township Home to Aldi's First LI Store

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