Janice Kubansek used to shop at Bottom Dollar in Homestead before it closed this year, so it was not extraordinary to find her in that neck of the woods Wednesday morning.
Except that she was in line to be the first customer at the supermarket that is now operating as an Aldi.
“I like their produce,” said Kubansek of West Mifflin, who was one of about 20 customers in line when the doors opened after a brief ribbon cutting ceremony.
Local and county leaders attended the event. The store will host its grand opening to customers this morning.
“We're happy to have it back again,” Homestead councilman Lloyd Cunningham said of the store located on East Seventh Avenue next to the Amity Street entrance to the Waterfront.
Cunningham said the supermarket offers a nearby alternative to shopping in the Waterfront that will benefit locals who don't have a car. He said about 42 percent of the borough's population does not drive.
Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald said at the ceremony that Aldi has invested heavily in the county, especially “in places that had formerly been food deserts.”
In the past month, Aldi supermarkets have opened in McKeesport and Penn Hills. An Aliquippa store is slated to open at the end of the month.
Homestead Mayor Betty Esper predicted the Homestead location will be a top performer for the chain, noting its proximity to the busy Waterfront.
“I think they're going to be happy with us,” Esper said. “I think we're all happy.”
J.R. Perry, vice president of the Saxonburg division of Aldi, said the Homestead store will serve as a prototype outlet for a new look the chain is introducing for a health-conscious line of products.
“We're looking forward to serving this community for many years,” Perry said.
The Homestead facility, which first opened in August 2013, was built for Bottom Dollar. The store closed in January and all of its fixtures were liquidated in early March.
Illinois-based Aldi said in March it would convert 30 of the 66 Bottom Dollar Food stores it purchased from Delhaize Group.
Aldi has more than 1,400 stores in 32 states from Kansas to the East Coast.
The company plans to open an average of 130 stores each year.
Eric Slagle is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-664-9161, ext. 1966, or eslagle@tribweb.com.

