Get your quarters and your reusable shopping bags ready.
Aldi, a German-founded discount grocery store chain, plans to open a store in Columbus.
“We’re excited to share that we’re making headway on our new store in Columbus,” said Heather Moore, regional vice president for the chain, in a statement provided to The Dispatch on Thursday. “While we don’t have information to share on opening timing just yet, we will stay in touch as more details become available so you and your readers can stay informed.”
While details remain scarce, plans for the Aldi – known for a no-frills shopping experience and discount prices – have been in the works for a while. Ward 6 Councilman Jason Spears, who chairs the city finance committee, said discussions began last fall.
“I think it’s going to galvanize ongoing investment and commercial development,” Spears told The Dispatch on Thursday. “… They have a lot of specialty items as well as their own brands that you don’t find anywhere else. That should complement the existing operators here in Columbus and further strengthen the ability for residents to shop here. … I look forward to when they open the doors and we can start spending money there.”
Aldi’s statement did not specify a location, but both Spears and Mayor Stephen Jones indicated Columbus Place – the former Leigh Mall – is a possibility. However, Aldi has not filed any design plans with the city planning department, according to Building Department Director Nathan Katona.
John Mulherin, vice president of government relations for Hull Property Group, which owns Columbus Place, would not confirm or deny if Aldi will occupy one of the old mall’s outparcels.
“We are under a NDA with certain organizations that like to announce their own coming and goings, and so I cannot comment further,” Mulherin told The Dispatch on Thursday. “Hint, hint, nod, nod.”
Hull Property Group purchased the former Leigh Mall property in 2019 and rebranded it to Columbus Place. The group then flipped the mall inside out, a $24 million project for which Columbus and Lowndes County agreed to contribute $3 million in tax rebates over 15 years, and purchased five adjacent properties to allow for outparcels.
Jones said he is excited about the possibility of the store driving more traffic to the shopping center.
“Once you get another big anchor there along with Hobby Lobby, I think that other individuals would be more prone to come there because you have something that’s going to drive more traffic there,” he said. “(Hull Property Group has) done a great job making it look nice along that 45 corridor. So we certainly thank them for that, and I think that we will see a lot more progress in future.”
Mulherin said interest in other outparcels is picking up, particularly from retail companies and quick-serve restaurants.
“Now that we’ve … almost finished the work out front to create those new outparcels, we’re seeing quite a bit of interest in that,” Mulherin said. “So our leasing agents are working with folks, anybody that wants to be right up front.”
McRae is a general assignment and education reporter for The Dispatch.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 29 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
