Shopping commences at Highland Park Aldi; two more locations in the works

An Aldi's was expected to open in Highland Park this summer, but guess what? It beat its deadline by a few months, opening its doors for business last week.

The 17,000-square-foot grocery store is the anchor of the Shops at Woodward Place, a 40,000-square-foot, $6 million development that will also include an office for the Highland Park Police and a Communicating Arts Credit Union — both of which should be in business within the month.

Developer Mark Thomas says the Woodward Place team is currently in negotiations with a number of other national retail tenants for the remaining space in the plaza.

At least two more Aldis are in the works for Detroit: one in Grandmont-Rosedale and another in Hamtramck. The Hamtramck one is notable in that it will be of a more urban design; it will occupy the site of the former Shopper's World department store and will include additional retail storefronts and two floors of luxury senior apartments above.

Thomas, who is partnered with the Curis family — Michael, Michael Jr. and Anthon — on all three projects, says there is a very simple reason Aldi is investing in Detroit. "The urban market vastly under-served in the grocery category."

Likewise, there is a reason city residents have embraced the chain. "It's a limited assortment grocer with high quality products at deeply discounted prices," he says. "It's a very simple format for a daily needs grocer, and the pricing is just incredible."

Source: Mark Thomas, Shops at Woodward Place
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh