Aldi has designs on the new-look Shoppes at Northway along McKnight Road in Ross.
The discount grocery store would open in a new building near the Northway Apartments. The building will house America's Best Contacts and Eyeglasses.
"This facility will be defined as our premiere location," said Brian McGee, Aldi's director of real estate. "This plan has been two years in the making, and is an exciting change for us."
The Ross Planning Commission last month recommended approval of the site plan. Now, Shoppes at Northway officials hope to get final approval from Ross commissioners at a meeting scheduled for Monday.
Development plans originally called for several stores to be torn out on the Browns Lane side of the mall, between Marshall's and Dick's Sporting Goods. That portion of the project will leave an open-air shopping facility in its place.
Additionally, three exterior buildings will be constructed, with two near Dick's and a third housing the new Aldi.
Aldi specializes in private-label grocery products at low prices. The grocery concept was introduced by Aldi in 1976, when the first stores were opened in southeastern Iowa. Today, the chain operates more than 800 stores in 27 states.
Aldi has been in Western Pennsylvania for the past 12 years, with 32 stores in the region. McGee expects to open as many as five more stores.
The building will be composed entirely of split-faced block, and some landscaping will be planted along the sides of the building.
The building will be a prototype store, and other stores will follow the design in the future.
"This is a new design for Aldi," McGee said. "It will have a bright, nice clean look."
Additional plans continue to be developed as construction crews work on a face-lift at the Shoppes at Northway.
In February, Ross officials approved plans to remodel the interior of the shopping facility by removing a large portion of the upper level. Since then, a family entertainment store has replaced the food court, and several merchants have been shuffled throughout the mall.
