Aldi Foods Could Bring Back Plans for New Lenox

After pulling out of plans to come here in 2008, Aldi Foods could soon resubmit an application to the village and give New Lenox another grocery option.

Robin Ellis, the village planning and development administrator, said no application has been received yet.

"But we’ve heard they’re back in the mix,” she said."They withdrew their original plans because of the economy."

Aldi's 2008 plans were to be in the northwest corner of the New Lenox Town Center, where anchors the developing area. And though site developer John McVickers would not comment on the town center, other village officials have said that could be the same location.

The grocery store would have been a 16,822-square-foot building with 93 parking spaces, but there's no certainty the plans would be the same if Aldi submits another application.

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.

Mayor Tim Baldermann said the opening of Walmart in October and the possibility for Aldi to come 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 stores in New Lenox, as well as a and grocery options at Walmart and . 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.

"As a result, we get the lowest prices from our suppliers — and pass the savings on to you," the website states.

When asked which businesses they'd like to see come to New Lenox, many mentioned Aldi.

 "It would be nice to get a discount grocery, like an Aldi," said Jeff Kilbride, who recently lost his job as a truck driver. "The lower prices would be great."