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| Aldi's newly opened Tucker location |
Discount grocer adding second Kennesaw store.
Aldi, the German based discount grocer, has reportedly signed a lease on the former Sports Authority at Barrett Place, just off Barrett Parkway in Kennesaw. Sports Authority was one of the center's anchors until it closed last year after filing for bankruptcy.
The space, which measures just over 42,000 square feet, is far larger than a typical Aldi store. That said, sources say that Aldi intends to occupy about 18,000-20,000 square feet of the space, with plans to sublease the balance to another tenant. Built in 1994, Barrett Place is home to Best Buy, Michaels, PetSmart, OfficeMax, The Furniture Mall and a freestanding TGI Friday's restaurant.
Aldi already operates one Kennesaw location, a freestanding store at 3076 Cobb Parkway, about six miles from the Barrett Place store.
Lidl, another German based grocer, is planning to enter the U.S. market later this summer, in advance of an earlier planned 2018 debut, with about 20 locations in Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Lidl is actively planning upwards of a dozen new locations in Georgia that may open as early as next spring.
The company is planning at least two locations in Cobb county, in Mableton and near Sandy Plains and Shallowford Road in northeast Cobb. Lidl is targeting freestanding parcels on which they plan to operate roughly 36,000 square foot stores, about double the size of a typical Aldi.
Today Aldi operates nearly 60 locations across the state including locations in Tucker and Peachtree Corners that both opened this past February. Both the Tucker and Peachtree Corners locations sport the company's new, upscale design with enhanced interiors and an emphasis on organic produce.
Aldi is seen by many as "low brow," or on the level of Big Lots, where people have the ill-conceived notion that only expired food is sold. In reality, Aldi emphasizes a "no frills" approach with stores largely stocked with private label merchandise that is both cheaper to the consumer and more profitable to the company.
Aldi has also reportedly leased the former Sports Authority in Buckhead where they plan to occupy a similarly sized portion of the former sporting goods store, and sublease the balance.
Elsewhere in metro Atlanta, the former Sports Authority in Alpharetta has been filled by American Signature Furniture, in Buford has been filled by Burlington Coat Factory, while the Sandy Springs store was replaced with Dick's Sporting Goods. Dick's is also allegedly still planning to open in place of the former Sports Authority in Akers Mill Square near Cumberland Mall, but has been delayed.
Are you excited at the prospect of having an Aldi in Kennesaw? What is your favorite grocer in Atlanta? What would you like to see open in the remaining space?
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