Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The now-empty Bottom Dollar Food store in Bristol Township’s Levittown section will reopen as an Aldi.
Officials from low-price grocery chain Aldi announced Friday morning that the Levittown store would be reopening under the Aldi brand. An Aldi spokesperson said they are working to get the store open as “quickly as possible.”
Advertisements
The shuttered Penndel Bottom Dollar Food store location will not reopen as an Aldi, according to the company spokesperson.
“While we are in the beginning stages of this process, I can assure you that we are open to working with interested parties to explore options for this property that keeps the needs of the community in mind,” spokesperson Kathleen Gilgunn said.
“With the completion of this real estate transaction, we are able to ramp up our expansion plans in the region to meet the growing demand for the ALDI difference: high- quality groceries at everyday low prices in an easy-to-shop store,” Aldi CEO Jason Hart said in a written statement.
Advertisements
About 30 of the 66 Bottom Dollar Food stores purchased by Aldi from Delhaize for roughly $15 million are planned to reopen. About 35 stores, including the Bensalem and Lower Southampton stores remain under review. An Aldi press release states those roughly 35 stores would be evaluated for sale, sublease or assignment.
“While we are excited to pursue opening ALDI stores at 30 of these locations, we will continue working with those communities where we will not be using the sites to ensure a smooth transition,” Hart said.
Advertisements
The company is currently in the middle of an “accelerated growth plan” to open more than 650 new stores by 2018. By that year, Aldi, already a popular European brand, hopes to have 2,000 locations operating inside the United States. The plan comes with a multi-billion dollar investment.
While employment figures for the Levittown store were not immediately available, the company plans to add more than 10,000 jobs across the nation in the coming years.
Bottom Dollar Food owned the 18,000-square-foot store at the intersection of Edgely Road and Mill Creek Parkway in Levittown. The Penndel store, which is on Bellevue Avenue, is leased.
Advertisements
Aldi already operates a store off Woodbourne Road in Middletown Township’s Levittown section.
All of Bottom Dollar Food’s 66 stores closed in mid-January and have sat vacant since.
Advertisements
Aldi is known for offering generous pay compared to some other grocery stores in the area. The company offers health benefits for employees working at least 25 hours a week and all workers are able to enroll in the company’s 401(k) program.
Hart announced Friday the Aldi chain plans to expand their product offerings and add more quality produce, meats, dairy products and organic items.
