Aldi Grocery opens with 7 more businesses coming to new shopping center in Santa Maria
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Customers lined up Thursday morning for the opening of the new Aldi grocery store in Santa Maria.
“We got here at 7:30 … what brought us here is we like the store we always go to The one in Arroyo grande … but now it’s more convenient here in Santa Maria," said customer Jose Aguilera.
As soon as doors opened at 8:00 a.m., customers received a warm welcome from Aldi representatives.
"It has wonderful prices I really love coming to the store the atmosphere is wonderful here," said customer Ophelia Cowett.
Most of the customers who came to the grand opening said the number one reason why they plan to shop here is because of the location.
“We always went to the one in Arroyo grande … and so this is much easier because you know driving 12 miles just to go to the store," said customer Gary Shiepe.
“ It saves us a lot of time and travel and fuel to be able to come to the one in Santa Maria," said customer Steve Baker.
Some customers say they plan to return to Aldi on a regular basis.
"Me and my wife will probably be here about maybe 3 to 4 times a week," said Shiepe.
“I plan to come here every week … maybe two times a week," said Baker.
Aldi is the first business to open at the new Enos Ranch East shopping center.
City developers say Chipotle, Dutch Bros, Firehouse Subs, and Juice It Up are also coming to the complex!
"It's always nice when we get new businesses so that the community can have more choices of places to shop," said President and CEO Glenn Morris of the Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce.
While construction for those retailers gets underway, shoppers are loading up at Aldi.
“We’re having a great time because the vegetables are really good and they’re really good and the mangoes are only 29 cents, " said customer Maria Tachiquin.
Aldi is located at the East shopping center being built on the northwest corner of South College Drive and Betteravia Road.
