A national grocer is set to open its second Dubuque location next week.
Aldi will open its new store at 2596 Dodge St. on Thursday, Nov. 30, in Plaza 20. The low-cost grocer will offer a variety of fresh and frozen food options, as well as a selection of household and personal care items.
The grand opening is set for 8:25 a.m. Thursday, and the first 100 customers will receive store gift cards and a chance to enter a drawing for additional rewards.
“Everything we do is to provide shoppers with the high-quality, fresh foods they want at prices they love,” Shane Williams, Aldi’s Oak Creek Division vice president, told the Telegraph Herald by email. “We’re excited to continue to offer that to the Dubuque community.”
Aldi markets itself as a no-frills, low-price alternative to other grocery store competitors. The Germany-based grocer has more than 2,000 U.S. stores, including one at 2160 Holliday Drive in Dubuque that Williams said has proved popular.
The Dodge Street store is set up with a similar layout and offerings to the Holliday Drive location, Williams said, and will employ 15 to 20 people. Online job postings for the store list a starting wage of $17 per hour.
The site was selected for its high visibility and proximity to Dodge Street, Williams said. The store is located near Starbucks on the plot formerly occupied by Subway, which now is located in a nearby building at Plaza 20.
“When it comes to choosing new store locations, we carefully consider several factors,” Williams said. “Bottom line, we look for convenient locations for our customers that can support a high traffic volume.”
The building permit application for the new store submitted by MS Consultants earlier this year put the total valuation of the project at $1.7 million.
Rick Dickinson, CEO of Greater Dubuque Development Corp., called the new Aldi store a “beautiful addition” to Plaza 20, which also includes Joann Fabric and Crafts, Slumberland Furniture, Sonic and more.
“We always like to see more choices for our residents in the Dubuque area, and with this being a second location, it shows an increased investment in the area that we greatly appreciate,” he said.
Dickinson said adding fresh grocery options across the city is a “moving target” for area economic developers, particularly in locations that would bolster accessibility for low-income neighborhoods.
The Dodge Street store will be open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday and will offer options for in-store shopping, curbside pickup and delivery.