- November 7, 2024
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Melissa Westenhowser, Kari Edwards, Myrcia Munet, Jim Amato and Pam Amato were in line to get a free gift card at the Aldi Grand Opening. Photo by Wayne Grant
Mayor Bill Partington and Aldi General Manager Debbie Cambria cut the ribbon at the Aldi opening ceremony. Cambria, of Ormond Beach, has been an Aldi manager for 10 years. At left of Partington is City Commissioner Susan Persis.
The first 100 customers at Aldi received a gift card. Photo by Wayne Grant
The rain the morning of Sept. 19 did not dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd waiting for Aldi food market to open at 8:25 a.m. at 1260 W. Granada Blvd. in Shoppes on Granada.
Pam Amato arrived at 6:30 a.m. and was near the front of the line of people who arrived early to get a free gift card, an opening day promotion for the first 100 guests. She didn’t mind the wait.
“It was an adventure. We even got a shower,” she said with a laugh about a brief rain.
The line of people, chatting amiably, stretched the length of the business. After the store opened, the parking lot filled quickly with shoppers.
Amato said she likes Aldi because they have a lot of European selections. She believes the Europeans have higher standards when it comes to additives, artificial color, etc.
Myrcia Munet said her father always shopped at the Aldi in Daytona Beach because he liked the produce and the prices.
Amato’s husband, Jim, said he likes the fact that Aldi does not overwhelm the customer with many varieties of the same item.
One person in line hailed from Germany, where Aldi started. Pat Botts said she likes the holiday items they have at Christmas and Easter.
“I wish they had more,” she said.
Mayor Bill Partington helped to cut the ribbon to open the store. Other officials on hand included City Commissioners Susan Persis, Troy Kent and Rob Littleton; and School Board Member Carl Persis.
“It’s a huge benefit to the community and the residents are excited,” Partington said.
Store General Manager Debbie Cambria, an Ormond Beach resident, has been an Aldi manager for 10 years. She said she is glad to now open one in her own neighborhood.
“That’s the best part of this opening,” she said.
The Ormond Beach store is part of the $3.4 billion ALDI investment to expand to 2,500 stores nationwide by the end of 2022. ALDI currently has more than 1,800 stores in 35 states, serving more than 40 million customers each month, according to a press release.
