TAMPA \u2014 New Tampa officially has its second Aldi, although Wesley Chapel can pretty much claim it too. The store, a converted Winn-Dixie just south of County Line Road, opened Dec. 11 to the usual online reaction:<\/p>\n
A third loved it, a third hated it and a third complained it wasn\u2019t a Trader Joe\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t be greedy, folks. A Whole Foods is coming up the road on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. That\u2019ll sit across from a Super Target, which sits across from this new Aldi.<\/p>\n
You\u2019re getting a deal.<\/p>\n
I get it: Aldi isn\u2019t for everyone. The unfamiliar brands. The 12-cent paper bags. The dread of not having a quarter for a cart. But as a converted member of the Aldi cult, which can only be earned after making 10 purchases, half of which you regret, from the store\u2019s Aisle of Shame, I have come to appreciate the store\u2019s quirky charms and better than average prices.<\/p>\n
And yes, I keep quarters in my car as if they are rare gems.<\/p>\n
Here’s why you should love Aldi, too:<\/p>\n
THE PRICES: While I love nothing more than dropping $300 at Costco when I only meant to stop in for paper towels and a chicken bake, the math is friendlier at Aldi, where I can fill a cart with three paper bags of groceries for around $100, maybe more if I\u2019m splurging for salmon or something.<\/p>\n
And yes, that means buying some brands I do not recognize. But trust me, the Millville cereals like Crispy Rice, Corn Flakes and Fruit Rounds are just as good as the bigger cereal name brands, but at $1.95 a box, sign me up. If you have kids, trust me: the cereals are where Aldi can save your budget.<\/p>\n
The prices aren\u2019t clearance, expiration-date-is-tomorrow cheap, and they don\u2019t offer BOGOs, but overall, it feels like everything is more than a few cents cheaper and it adds up.<\/p>\n
THE BRANDS: Aldi\u2019s European roots means shelves full of names you won\u2019t recognize, but don\u2019t be scared.<\/p>\n
Bremer\u2019s frozen meals? My diet and palette may be questionable, but its shepherd\u2019s pie, salisbury steak and lasagna meals ain\u2019t bad.<\/p>\n
Benton\u2019s sweets? Always tasty. Case Mamita\u2019s Mexican offerings? Esta Bueno!<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve bought some duds, so I\u2019m not saying it\u2019s perfect. There is a \u201cNever Buy Again\u201d list in our household, but there\u2019s only a few things on it.<\/p>\n
But discovering the hits and misses is part of the fun.<\/p>\n
AISLE OF SHAME: If you\u2019re going to truly commit to Aldi\u2019s, go join any of the number of Aisle of Shame Facebook groups. They will guide you through Aldi\u2019s most chaotic and wonderful feature: a center aisle full of seasonal, random, irresistible \u2026 stuff.<\/p>\n
It makes no sense. I have bought an embarrassingly large number of items from this aisle, some of which I would never confess to in public.<\/p>\n
I have, however, proudly purchased a grill cover for $9.99, and a $1.99 meat thermometer.<\/p>\n
My wife has bought a variety of kitchen items, floor mats, a rug, swimsuits and pajama sets (she will deny this), cat scratch pads and doggie jackets, plants, three cabinets and a variety of other completely unnecessary knick-knacks, including some that we just wanted to see if they actually worked.<\/p>\n
(Editor\u2019s note: meh, 50-50).<\/p>\n
I nearly purchased an Aldi hat last summer, you know, for doing yard work, but my wife, violently and viciously I might add, vetoed that attempt, fearing I would show up in public wearing it with a Kirkland shirt (iykyk).<\/p>\n
And the stuff we regret? Merry White Elephant Christmas, everyone!<\/p>\n
At the new New Tampa Aldi, I managed to resist a cat warming mat (only $6.99!), a kid\u2019s airbed (with pump!), a cast iron braiser (apparently we bought one already), a three-piece hat, glove and scarf set (I live in Florida!) and a portable electric food warmer (to keep my Bremer\u2019s Shepherd\u2019s pie warm!), to name a few (sorry, I\u2019m excited!).<\/p>\n
The Aisle of Shame is restocked Wednesdays, becomes a disaster zone by Friday, and remains the primary reason I go to Aldi, if we\u2019re being honest.<\/p>\n
Well, that and the cheese.<\/p>\n
THE CHEESE: Aldi\u2019s cheese section is elite.<\/p>\n
We like to buy a different cheese each trip, and a box of Thin Wheat crackers (which tastes suspiciously like Wheat Thins, and we\u2019re pretty sure are Wheat Thins, but you know\u2026), and make a nice charcuterie type of thing at home.<\/p>\n
The choices can be divine. Masquerade Mango, Crimson Cranberry, Double Gloucester and Balsamic Onion are just a few of the choices that caught our eye at the new store.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s artisan cheddar cheeses rubbed with espresso and lavender, hatch chilis, secret Cajun spices and sea salt and honey. Or maybe a Sheep\u2019s Milk Cheese with fig chili is more to your liking?<\/p>\n
Listen, you can trust me when it comes to cheese: I\u2019m from Wisconsin. Sometimes, I even wear a block of cheese on my head while watching football games. I mean, not real cheese, but you get my point.<\/p>\n
And if you just want American slices or shredded cheeses like cheddar, you\u2019re covered.<\/p>\n
THE SWEETS: If I\u2019m at Costco, I can avoid buying a 10-pound, $20 bag of Dubai chocolates. Aldi is more dangerous to my waistline.<\/p>\n
There is a nice selection of Choceur and Moser Roth chocolate bars, the Benton\u2019s Hazlenut cookies are definitely on the buy again list, and the Belgian butter waffle crisps and other cookies are tough to resist.<\/p>\n
And with apologies to my favorite girl, Little Debbie, the Baker\u2019s Treat brand Peanut Butter wafers and Swiss for $1.95 give her a run for the money.<\/p>\n
THE MEAT: The meat selection gets mixed reviews online, but I\u2019ve seen where people are scoring great deals, like New York Strips for 99 cents apiece or 10 pounds of ground beef for $3 or something crazy like that. Mind you, I have never seen one of these deals in person, just pictures posted in the Facebook groups, so it must be true, because it was on the internet, and it has become my mission to snag one of these.<\/p>\n
I did spot 50% off stickers on fresh Atlantic salmon at the new New Tampa store, which I only noticed at home, after zooming in on a photo I took.<\/p>\n
Day. Ruined.<\/p>\n
However, I did cop some all-natural chicken breasts for $2.19 a pound.<\/p>\n
THE EGGS: $1.96 a dozen. Run.<\/p>\n
THE WINE: While I don\u2019t mind a nice glass of Moscato when my friends aren\u2019t around to make fun of me while I drink it, I confess, I\u2019m no sommelier.<\/p>\n
But Aldi does have a decent reputation for wine, and the prices are quite good. There\u2019s a whole display at the New Tampa store, and I don\u2019t think I saw a single bottle for more than $10. I\u2019ll let the more cultured among you decide if that\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n
THE UNKNOWN: Beef schnitzel, a Piadina and some almond Spekulatius.<\/p>\n
I have no idea what any of this is but felt the need to mention it.<\/p>\n
THE CARTS: Yes, you need a quarter to get a cart. Yes, it\u2019s quirky.<\/p>\n
But it also gives you the chance to do the most wholesome thing you\u2019ll do all week: hand your cart to someone on your way out.<\/p>\n
Good for you! Happy Holidays.<\/p>\n
So while Aldi may not be the Trader Joe\u2019s people continue to hope for, it\u2019s fun, affordable and delightfully weird.<\/p>\n
See ya there. I\u2019ll be the guy in the Aisle of Shame next week fighting someone for the leaf blower, face massager or men\u2019s flannel pajama pants.<\/p>\n