Aldi's is coming to Livingston Circle
There is one in Union on Commerce Ave (near corner of Morris Ave) that I go to. I like them OK, like a cheapo Trader Joes, but not as exciting. Some good buys if you look. Great for snacks.
Yeah, it's an interesting take on a supermarket, I think. Worth the occasional visit. And it's the only store where I can find Mexican crema. Anyway, it's nice to add to the local variety of markets. Hope it does better than Fresh Market, the last place in that spot, which was OK but pricey, and maybe a little too precious for its own good. It was a Whole Foods with a poorer selection.
And if you ask me, that whole location would be better served if it would buy out the gas station property next door and make an entrance\exit on Route 10.
I have a pet peeve with them. they scan your items and just throw them back in your cart for you to bag after....fine, great idea..line moves faster...BUT, they insist on throwing it into the baby seat..where babies have been sitting after sitting on a dirty floor or grass a dog has pee'd on..or having leaking diapers themselves or drooling and wiping spit. I've asked them not to do it, tried tying the seat closed with the belt, etc, but it still happens sometimes. often they will be trading carts. they have an empty by their side that they fill with your stuff, then when you are done the cart you shopped with becomes the empty of the next customer.
i know a lot of people don't think about putting food in the baby seat or don't have a problem with it, but its bad practice for a store to do that to customers.
the food area is bad enough with kids sitting in the basket with their shoes that have run over grass where dogs have been.....i try to go to stores that have the smaller baskets kids don't fit in at all and if I have to use a larger basket, I have a canvas bag that hooks on the side and i put food in there as I shop. I am disabled and can't manage long shopping trips. I tend to do 2-3 small trips per week so that works for me as i don't need the room in the basket
jmitw said:
I have a pet peeve with them. they scan your items and just throw them back in your cart for you to bag after....fine, great idea..line moves faster...BUT, they insist on throwing it into the baby seat..where babies have been sitting after sitting on a dirty floor or grass a dog has pee'd on..or having leaking diapers themselves or drooling and wiping spit. I've asked them not to do it, tried tying the seat closed with the belt, etc, but it still happens sometimes. often they will be trading carts. they have an empty by their side that they fill with your stuff, then when you are done the cart you shopped with becomes the empty of the next customer.
i know a lot of people don't think about putting food in the baby seat or don't have a problem with it, but its bad practice for a store to do that to customers.
the food area is bad enough with kids sitting in the basket with their shoes that have run over grass where dogs have been.....i try to go to stores that have the smaller baskets kids don't fit in at all and if I have to use a larger basket, I have a canvas bag that hooks on the side and i put food in there as I shop. I am disabled and can't manage long shopping trips. I tend to do 2-3 small trips per week so that works for me as i don't need the room in the basket
This is so silly. Just ask them not to put groceries there if it’s that big of a deal to you. And somehow I doubt that carry over of dog pee from grass then to a baby’s clothes to a metal shopping cart then onto groceries is actually much of a problem.
I don’t like Aldi at all. The one somewhat near me in Linden has always seemed really dirty and gross. Meats always looked horrible. But, yes, there are some ethnic foods you can get there you can’t get elsewhere.
I go to a smallish, not that attractive Aldi (not in NJ) and really like it for the items i get there: yogurt, cereal, canned goods, canola oil, dry pasta, some produce.... There are items that weren't that great (imo, frozen veg and prepared stuff, chocolate, cheese; haven't tried their meat) and items i'm not interested in (most snacks). But the prices on the things i do get are amazing, probably as good as Costco, plus it's closer & quantities are more manageable. Easily 1/3 to 1/2 lower than our "regular" market with some care.
The staff has always been very pleasant, & they take credit cards now (this is probably what tipped the scales for me). I don't mind bagging the groceries (now that I understand the drill). No problem with groceries being put into the child seat - it saves the produce from having cans dropped on it - but i'm sure they would avoid it if asked.
In and out in 20-30 min, and probably save $15-$30 a week.
I went to the Aldi's in a Union a few times a year or more ago and was underwhelmed. Recently went back and was pleasantly surprised to see the quality and variety had improved at a decent price. Spend more than I should there but having fun trying some new things.
jmitw said:
the Lidl on 22 just before Best Buy opens 11/14.
hmm, never heard of Lidl. Will definitely check them out.
thread tangent - does anyone use personal shopping bags when shopping? I personally hate having to deal with all of the plastic bags you get for even the most minimal amount of shopping, so I always try to bring my own bag. Some cashiers are kind of put off by them, while others dive right in and expertly pack them to the gills, as they should be.
conandrob240 said:
jmitw said:This is so silly. Just ask them not to put groceries there if it’s that big of a deal to you. And somehow I doubt that carry over of dog pee from grass then to a baby’s clothes to a metal shopping cart then onto groceries is actually much of a problem.
I have a pet peeve with them. they scan your items and just throw them back in your cart for you to bag after....fine, great idea..line moves faster...BUT, they insist on throwing it into the baby seat..where babies have been sitting after sitting on a dirty floor or grass a dog has pee'd on..or having leaking diapers themselves or drooling and wiping spit. I've asked them not to do it, tried tying the seat closed with the belt, etc, but it still happens sometimes. often they will be trading carts. they have an empty by their side that they fill with your stuff, then when you are done the cart you shopped with becomes the empty of the next customer.
i know a lot of people don't think about putting food in the baby seat or don't have a problem with it, but its bad practice for a store to do that to customers.
the food area is bad enough with kids sitting in the basket with their shoes that have run over grass where dogs have been.....i try to go to stores that have the smaller baskets kids don't fit in at all and if I have to use a larger basket, I have a canvas bag that hooks on the side and i put food in there as I shop. I am disabled and can't manage long shopping trips. I tend to do 2-3 small trips per week so that works for me as i don't need the room in the basket
I don’t like Aldi at all. The one somewhat near me in Linden has always seemed really dirty and gross. Meats always looked horrible. But, yes, there are some ethnic foods you can get there you can’t get elsewhere.
THIS IS SO SILLY, you didn't read it yet belittle me...what part of I'VE ASKED THEM NOT TO did you not understand? and the reason i don't want to have to speak up in store is because of people like you who think i am a whiny baby because I am health conscious and think people should be considerate of others and their preferences rather than calling them silly for such a simple request to not use the baby seat.
too often the customer in front of me is blocking me from moving up to discretely ask the cashier to not use the baby seat.....its amazing that so many people are so inconsiderate to other shoppers in general..not having sense to stand off to the side or move up as soon as possible to make room for others.
there have been studies on carts, they are very contaminated over all..not just the baby seat.
i mostly go to places with self checkouts so I can bag the way I like it----my mother taught me at 5 how to bag (putting perishables together, not crushing the eggs, but too many cashiers don't seem to have ever been taught...i use plastic bags for small garbage cans and some other things so I do like them except when they get bad rips and become useless.
db, I use my own bags almost all the time, but still have plastic bag overflow at home because DH, being recently retired, now shops almost every day, and pretty much never takes a durable bag. I had thought this was a guy thing, so i'm glad to hear you do carry bags - there's hope!
Hm, will have to check it out, never been in an Aldi before. I always bring reusable bags and never put items in the baby seat, not even non food.
mjc said:
I had thought this was a guy thing, so i'm glad to hear you do carry bags - there's hope!
I take along my own durable bags, too, and even save the tear-off produce baggies for re-use. If that last part sounds insane — it’s my wife’s idea.
DaveSchmidt said:
mjc said:I take along my own durable bags, too, and even save the tear-off produce baggies for re-use. If that last part sounds insane — it’s my wife’s idea.
I had thought this was a guy thing, so i'm glad to hear you do carry bags - there's hope!
I re-use the produce bags all the time. They come in very handy.
Best part about Aldi is it’s quick to get in and out! Can’t beat the prices and quality on most things.
European touches, a number of items same as Trader Joe’s (they’re sister companies). Their holiday chocolates, cookies, baked goods can’t be beat. It’s great they’re going all natural, non GMO, organic, etc to compete at a far lower cost Whole Foods (their vision within a couple years)
It’s my weekly go to. Then every other week to Shoprite for meats, coffee, ice cream. Very few things at Aldi are not to my liking - peanut butter and ice cream are disappointing.
I buy paper goods and cat litter at Costco, pet food from Amazon. So Aldis a good fit
Lidl is another European grocer hoping to break into the US - from what I read fresh bakery is their signature, and a focus on produce. And will have a much larger selection vs Aldi.
Used to go to the Aldi location in Union at this time of year. They have a great selection of German gingerbread cookies.
I regularly shop at Aldi. It was an easy transition as I have always used store brands (Pathmark's only saving grace for many years).
And I also use reusable bags. The staff at Shoprite do not seem to have any trouble with it now, but they did in the beginning. I prefer to bag my own, so that helps.
ETA As a stay at home parent, I have had the luxury of being able to shop in multiple stores to maximize value. My current loop -- Aldi Union, Costco, Shoprite on 22 -- requires an ice chest but since I can cover all three stores in one trip is gas and time efficient.
I will have to try Aldi again -- I too was underwhelmed on my first visit -- they just didn't have much of the things I buy the most of -- but I will look again!
Crema has long been available at Extra and City -- but I just recently I found it at Stop and Shop! I take full credit for that since I'd been badgering them about that for a year or more.
Happy grocery shopping! Yes, I am one of those who get excited about these things!
City is in Ivy Plaza. Wonderful and different but not inexpensive for basics. I have a special list of things they have that are better, and go only every couple of months.
Oh. Ok. Is that where the old whatchamahoozie market used to be? (Foodtown maybe?)
Aldi in Union is good for low prices on produce and dairy goods. I've never tried their meat, it didn't look fresh enough to me. My gripe is the lack of cashiers and long checkout lines. Why build 6 checkout lanes and only 1 or 2 are staffed?
And Extra is on Irvington near the intersection with Parker. Lots of Caribbean and Central/South American products. (Yes, City used to have a different name, I've forgotten what it was. It's nicer now -- super tidy.)
iwasmim said:
And Extra is on Irvington near the intersection with Parker. Lots of Caribbean and Central/South American products. (Yes, City used to have a different name, I've forgotten what it was. It's nicer now -- super tidy.)
City was an A&P when I moved to Maplewood...
max_weisenfeld said:
City is in Ivy Plaza. Wonderful and different but not inexpensive for basics. I have a special list of things they have that are better, and go only every couple of months.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/City+Supermarket/@40.736455,-74.2521488,17z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x89c3ac92f88a1091:0xfb76f8cc8ea4c94e!2sIvy+Plaza!8m2!3d40.736455!4d-74.2499601!3m4!1s0x89c3ac93ab9e3a4d:0x456035f0ca6f02ef!8m2!3d40.735995!4d-74.2495704
They have the most extensive selection of roasted buckwheat groats (which I regularly buy there) I've ever seen.
Both Aldi and Lidl are German supermarket chains. I wonder why they are all adding stores at the moment. Aldi owns Trader Joe's. Aldi in Germany is much better with a great reputation for quality food. In the US, the best thing about it are the German imports like coffee, Christmas goodies, chocolate etc. Most of the other food is very processed. However, they are making an effort to be all non-GMO. They are very understaffed - part of their low-price model. I feel sorry for the workers there who seem to constantly dash from filling the shelves to sitting at the cash register and back.
angelak said:
max_weisenfeld said:They have the most extensive selection of roasted buckwheat groats (which I regularly buy there) I've ever seen.
City is in Ivy Plaza. Wonderful and different but not inexpensive for basics. I have a special list of things they have that are better, and go only every couple of months.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/City+Supermarket/@40.736455,-74.2521488,17z/data=!4m12!1m6!3m5!1s0x89c3ac92f88a1091:0xfb76f8cc8ea4c94e!2sIvy+Plaza!8m2!3d40.736455!4d-74.2499601!3m4!1s0x89c3ac93ab9e3a4d:0x456035f0ca6f02ef!8m2!3d40.735995!4d-74.2495704
Wait. They have a selection? Like different varieties of roasted buckwheat groats?
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In the old Pathmark/Fresh Market(?) spot. Opening 11/1/18.
(For those who get excited about supermarkets.)