Aldi Foods to Come to New Lenox

If all goes as planned, Aldi Foods could give New Lenox another grocery option just in time for Thanksgiving dinner.

The Village Board approved site plans Monday for the store, which would fill 17,886 square feet in the northwest corner of the New Lenox Town Center, where Walmart anchors the developing area. Aldi originally had plans to move into the same spot but pulled out in 2008 because of economic concerns.

Right now, the nearest Aldi to New Lenox is one located . There's also an Aldi in Lockport, Joliet, Homer Glen and Orland Hills. Those are all open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

In a previous article, Mayor Tim Baldermann said the opening of Walmart in October and now Aldi coming here gives residents more options.

"We’re excited to have them," he said. "The nice thing is we’ve got a lot of grocery choices for people here. It wasn’t like that for years; we just had the one Jewel."

Now there are two Jewel Osco stores in New Lenox, as well as a Berkot's Super Foods and grocery options at Walmart and Target. Aldi claims on its website to offer lower price than competitors, in part because it carries only about 1,400 of the most-used grocery and household items.

Aldi will join Walmart in the New Lenox Town Center, as well as fast food joints and . is on the far east end of the developement, and opened today. Plans have been submitted for a Goodwill store and Chase Bank and Discount Tire are both under permit review. Menard’s has also committed to eventually building in the lot to the east of Walmart.

Engineer Mark Foster with Aldi said he hopes to break ground as soon as possible and be open in time for Thanksgiving.