Aldi opening draws crowd

Despite the wind, rain and sinking temperatures, an enthusiastic crowd gathered on New London’s north side for the grand opening of the new Aldi Store Thursday, Oct. 31, at 1820 N. Shawano St.

The newly paved parking lot was jam packed with cars. Many vehicles were lined up along North Shawano Street for over a quarter mile on both ends of the entrance. Fifty 50 more cars parked across the street as a line of people formed around the new building awaiting the ribbon cutting and door opening at 8:50 a.m.

Traffic in the area was busy enough that New London Police dispatched a squad to the area for maintaining traffic and pedestrian safety.

“It just goes to show you how ready people were in this town for another store,” said Larry Hutchison of New London.

New London has had only one grocery store in its city limits since the fall of 2020, when long time independent Piggly Wiggly store owner Pete Butch retired and closed the business.

Festival Foods remains the city’s major downtown anchor business and largest grocery store.

In October 2021, the longtime independent Festival store owned by the Coppersmith family sold to the Skogen family of stores.

By then, residents in New London had already long missed the days when the city boasted three and four grocery stores in town.

In the early 2000s when the Coppersmiths built the Festival, the city had a Piggly Wiggly, Hofherr’s Meats and More, and Markman’s Foods. By 2010, Festival and Piggly Wiggly were the only two left in town.

After the closing of Piggly Wiggly in 2020, residents pressed the city’s economic development committee to do what it could to try to fill the store with another grocer.

Rumors of an Aldi have circulated town since.

In 2023, when it became known Aldi would build a new facility in town, citizens of New London and the surrounding area reacted with excitement and relief.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, the new store opened its doors to the public.

Rick Gambsky of Manawa was one of the store’s first customers.

“The Aldi(s) in New London is amazing,” he told the Press Star in a message sent Wednesday.

“I was impressed with the difference in layout as compared to other locations,” Gambsky saidin a follow up conversation. “It was very well stocked and roomy. Employees were extremely friendly and helpful and the new location seems to have more items than other locations.”