So it was a happy day when Aldi finally opened its doors in our little rural town. I went to the Grand Opening, and I got a Golden Ticket, too! Come along, and I’ll tell you all about it. (Disclosure: this post is long, and I did get some AI help to polish it up.)

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Hello, Dear Readers:

Yes, it’s been a minute. I’m sorry about that. After my last post in April of last year, I said I was going to write something “next week,” and life got in the way. Again. Really, it did, more than once, then I couldn’t get back into the website. All kinds of stuff. Dogs (we now have three), cats (still have two), cars, snow, you name it. So blogging just hasn’t happened. I didn’t even pick any blackberries this year.

Now the scent of pumpkin spice is everywhere. In coffee, muffins, bagels, motor oil, and cleaning fluids. My apologies.

About The Weather

Our hot, dry August has extended into September. Fortunately, we’ve not had any Gulf Coast tropical activity to be concerned about this season. There was one storm that everyone was watching closely and the weather people were warning everyone to “be ready.” The next day—POOF! No news. I think it dissipated before it got near any coastline.

But we even had some snow in January, and I did my first Instagram live stream in the snow.

Isn’t that a gorgeous sunset?

Why? Because in Louisiana (and the southern half of Texas), we don’t see snow very often. I figured my friends up north would enjoy watching—and several did.

This was by the roadside

Total was about five inches, I think. And because I still didn’t have a heavy winter raincoat, I finally bought one in May when Lands’ End had them seriously discounted. Bring on the winter snow!

Aunt Ruth has been getting an excessive number of emails from me…so I figured I should get back to blogging instead of loading up her inbox. Finally, I got back into the website, too.

The modern world arrived at the Casa de Rurale six months ago when Aldi arrived. Nearly everyone loves having them here.

The Aldi In Mississippi

Longtime readers will remember my trip to McComb, Mississippi, in 2023 when the ALDI opened there. I’ve made occasional trips back to McComb, but not weekly. I put the Aldi app on my phone and discovered that the wonderful “Aldi Finds” are published a week in advance. So, I know what’s coming next week and go with a list. Don’t ask how many trips I’ve made to McComb because there was an Aldi Find I just had to have. And of course, I get plenty of other stuff there, especially if it’s marked down.

On a trip to New Orleans last year, I took James into the Aldi on Veterans Memorial Boulevard before visiting The E Man. James eventually caught my “Aldi enthusiasm.” After learning we were getting an Aldi, he went with me to McComb a couple of times to do a little shopping. He saw what it would be like to shop there once the local store opened. Despite his comments about “it’s just a grocery store,” he’s now become a happy Aldi shopper. After forgetting shopping bags a couple of times, he now has three reusable Aldi bags in his little truck and a dedicated Aldi quarter in the console.

The End Of Winn-Dixie

One of the things that has happened since my last dispatch is that Winn-Dixie is no longer with us. Oddly, our Winn-Dixie store had just undergone renovation, and they even brought in more products. Unfortunately, the additional grocery stock didn’t last. In the end, bankruptcy was inevitable. Aldi bought the company, all the stores and digital assets, and everything under the SEC Grocers label. Here’s how it went down.

The Aldi company started choosing locations to close and renovate, as they had with the store in Mississippi two years prior. Last summer, it was announced that our local Winn-Dixie would be closed for good on September 15th, 2024. Aldi has already made inroads in New Orleans, Slidell, and the Baton Rouge areas. The old Winn-Dixie stores would all be remodeled into the new, compact, and modern Aldi style. Surprisingly, our town was next.

We watched the progress of the construction from the street. I kept looking on their website to find out when it might be open. In the meantime, I still occasionally drove north to the McComb Aldi store when I found any upcoming Aldi Finds I wanted. And because I couldn’t get English breakfast tea here anymore, I drove up there and bought several boxes to last until the local store opened.

Local Losses

Aldi came at the expense of Winn-Dixie, which was part of the local culture. Many people worked there in high school as their first job, including James. Some even retired from Winn-Dixie. Understandably, people were talking nostalgically about the place. The store had been in this location since the 1980s, and across the street long before that.

Unfortunately, the employees were left with the eventual dread of losing their jobs with no idea of future employment. Some found other jobs elsewhere, including one lady who was transferred to the Franklinton WD store, which may be gone now, too. It was no longer getting shipments, and they were selling everything down to the walls until the last day. Any leftover stock may have been shipped to other stores before they were inevitably closed, too.

That’s what Hancock Fabrics did, or at least, their liquidation company did. When one store closed, any remaining stock went to another store that was still open until that store sold out or closed. Irony alert: Neighbor E told me just last week that there is an Aldi in the spot where Hancock Fabrics was, on El Camino Real Blvd, near the Freeman Library.

Once our Winn-Dixie closed on September 15^th, the Aldi reconstruction began immediately.

March: The Wait Is Over

Finally, on social media, Aldi began announcing that our local store would open on Wednesday, March 12th.

I’ve joined a few Facebook groups dedicated to Aldi shoppers, plus I follow Aldi on Facebook and Instagram. But I really didn’t think anybody here would care. In fact, I asked my friend MY about it, and she didn’t know anybody who was even aware of the store’s opening. Doesn’t anyone pay attention? Well, they did, and social media did its job.

On a chilly, grey morning, I arrived and parked. Didn’t know what to expect, but I did bring my coffee. So, it was a surprise when I got there, and quite a few people were already in line.

I wasn’t the only one.

Later, one of the Aldi crew members handed me a number:

I was 38th in line!

This means that I was one of the 1st 100 people in line. No kidding! Aldi does have a sense of humor about these things.

See?

In fact, there were at least 200 people in line.

Who knew these people were ready to roll into Aldi?

The store was open for business the day before, in what they called a “soft opening.” That is, people could shop in the store and find out more about Aldi, but didn’t want to go to the grand opening. I needed a few things anyway.

Check Your Aldi Store’s Info

Of course, I didn’t check the opening time of the store beforehand. Along with one other customer, we discovered that Aldi opens at 9:00 am and closes at 8:00 pm. Winn-Dixie opened at 8:00 am and closed at 9:00 pm.

No, that’s not confusing at all.

Guess what? Most of the people I talked to that first day already knew about Aldi. They knew about the quarter and brought their own shopping bags. I told them how I was shopping at Macomb Aldi for the last two years. One lady said that she regularly shops at the Covington Aldi because she has business there. And another lady said that her daughter lives in Pennsylvania, and any time she goes to visit, they do an Aldi run. Like me, they were just waiting for one to open here.

The Grand Opening

Finally, right at 9:00, they began the opening ceremony. Someone from the Tangipahoa Parish government got up and spoke.

The opening ceremony

When they cut the ribbon and opened the doors, everybody walked inside.

This was not like Black Friday, where people were crushing each other to get through the front doors. No, this was a very orderly affair. Everybody was nice, polite, and we were welcomed by Aldi crew members from different Aldi locations, including one lady from Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

Someone handed me a swag bag with some delicious treats in it.

Those cookies are also dupes of Girl Scout Cookies. The seasoning is fantastic and I have bought more.

The “Everything Bagel” seasoning is a dupe of Trader Joe’s, and I keep buying that one since I was gifted a bottle. There is a “regular” version and a Jalapeno version too, all $1.75 a bottle. I like this one the best.

Someone also handed me what’s known as the “Golden Ticket,” a gift card given to one of the first 100 people. I opened it up and discovered it was worth $25.

I got one!! Thank you, Aldi! Yes, of course, they had Texas Toast.

I put it in my wallet and promptly forgot about it for two weeks. But I was there for a specific reason: what’s jokingly but lovingly called The Aisle of Shame.

Aldi Finds, AKA, The Aisle of Shame

In my last blog about Aldi, I mentioned all the wonderful things that they have in the store’s center aisle, known as Aldi Finds.. New items are available every Wednesday, and are published in an ad a week before. Since then I learned about the “Aisle of Shame” moniker.

Once inside, I knew where to go. When I got there, I said in my most elegant radio voice, “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Aldi Aisle of Shame.” There were many people already in the Aisle. I got a few laughs, because everyone knew what that meant.

The Aldi Finds center aisle has a weekly rotating selection of non-food items, as well as some food items. Most of the non-food merchandise in the center aisle, with some located at the entrance. The company tests the market for different kinds of items that shoppers may want and buy.

Sometimes, you don’t know you need something until you find it. This might be camping and gardening, household stuff, or kitchen stuff. Other times, it’s small Ikea-like furniture pieces that require minimal assembly. Right now, you can find Halloween décor.

The stock changes weekly, and some items are more popular than others. A recent Disney-themed drop had people lining up our store before 9, and the aisle was crowded with people looking for them. Once it’s gone, it’s gone—at least, until it comes back around another time or it lands in the markdowns.

The Aldi Brands

Aldi has unique names for its store brands throughout the store. On the Aisle of Shame, you’ll find:

• Kirkton House (home décor)
• Easy Home (organization item)
• Heart To Tail (pet supplies)
• Pure Being (pet food)
• Ambiano (appliances)
• Belavi (gardening equipment)
• Visage (hair dryers and other beauty aids)
• Serra (women’s clothing and accessories, including lingerie and purses)
• Crofton (kitchen tools)
• Lily & Dan (children’s clothes and accessories)
• Bauhn (electronics, like charger cords and small Bluetooth speakers)
• Workzone (hand and small power tools)

This is in addition to the unique brand names of their grocery items, like Chancy’s Chips, Live Free gluten-free items, and Friendly Farms dairy.

Why Do They Call It That?

This aisle is known among Aldi fans as the Aisle of Shame. Why? Well, because you go into Aldi for milk, eggs, butter, and bread, and walk out with a tabletop fire pit, potting table, hanging hammock chair, or a kayak at a price that’s less than everywhere else.

Over the summer, I met a lady who was looking for a chair for her RV, and Aldi’s was half the price of everyone else’s, even Amazon’s. With that in mind, you may just blow your grocery money this week and then some, unless you stick to what you need or order curbside.

This is common for fans of Aldi, and James and I have done this ourselves. For instance, we went in recently to get some groceries, and James found a couple of inexpensive duffel bags that he wanted for his next as-yet-unscheduled trip to Drag Week or other car-related trip. They’re not “good” luggage, and it’s OK if they get dirty and knocked around a little.

But there is one item that readers know this blogger couldn’t pass up.

The Ambiano Sewing Machine

I have bought so many great things from Aldi since discovering the Aisle of Shame nearly three years ago. My first purchase was the vacuum food sealer for $30. My most recent favorite find is a sewing machine that runs both AC/DC power and batteries.

Isn’t it cute? It even does buttonholes!

The original price was $40, and I didn’t buy one. But since the store received four, and they were still there in the month or so after arriving, I asked if they would be discounted. The manager’s answer: “I’ll sell you one for half price.” So said “thank you” and bought one. The other three were marked down a week or two later and sold quickly. I considered buying another one at that price, but by the time I thought it was a good idea, they were gone. Maybe I should have gone back to McComb to see if they still had one.

Yes, I have used it a couple of times for small jobs, and so far, so good. Reviews in one of the Facebook groups were wildly different. About half the people who bought one said that it was great, and a little portable workhorse, while others called it “junk.” This machine is a little noisy, but it does seem to work well. Let’s face it: nobody’s using this machine to make a gown for a royal wedding or the Oscars.

The instructions are easy to follow. With batteries, I can even use this machine during a power outage. That was one of the reasons I wanted to get one: it’s a backup I can tote somewhere. They may come around again later, too. I saw mentions on FB from people who “bought one last year.”

The Dupes

James is now a fully converted Aldi fan. Like me, he also has some favorites. This includes some cookies that are identical to Girl Scout Cookies and available all the time, like the ones they handed me at the grand opening.

Before this store opened, they had some cookies that were duplicates (“dupes”) of some Australian cookies called Tim Tams.

If you ever find these cookies, beware–they are delicious!

I don’t care what you call them—they were incredibly addictive, especially the chocolate ones. Aldi fans Down Under in the FB groups said they tasted exactly like Australian brand Tim Tams, but at half the price. Thankfully, they were never made available locally. Only the McComb store had them, and not for long. Otherwise, the light bill might not have been paid.

It’s not uncommon to find something in the Aisle of Shame that is nearly identical to something more expensive elsewhere, hence the nickname. Right before this store opened, Aldi had dupes of some cut glass candleholders similar to some sold at Anthropologie for as much as $48 each. Aldi had three of those designs under the Kirkton House name with different colors at $9.99 each, and they were quite popular. If you can find one on eBay or Mercari, it may sell for as much as the ones at Anthropologie. They were absolutely gorgeous and sold quickly. Shoppers showed off how they used the candle holders in their homes.

The Storage Ottoman

The most recent dupe I chased was a small storage ottoman that I wanted to help corral some of my sewing supplies that aren’t used as frequently. At $14.99, it was a great idea and price, and they came in three colors: gray, beige, and Navy Blue. But there were only two blue ones in the local store, and I wanted more. So I drove up to McComb to see if they had some. Score!

When I priced them later online at The Container Store, James understood why I made a big deal about getting some. Same style, more colors, but $39.99—more than twice the price of Aldi. The sewing supplies are corralled, the dark color keeps them in the background, the cardboard boxes are gone, we have extra seating (not that we ever have company) and the cats like them too.

Pets, Of Course

Oh, and of course, don’t forget the pets. Their Heart & Tail line has all manner of pet gear, sometimes with the Aldi logo. Tab E. Cat enjoyed this self-warming mat:

The Apex Predator, snuggling up.

I drove back up to McComb to get another one because TigerCat wanted one too.

Isn’t she just adorable?

But Buddy isn’t as crazy about his raincoat:

Notice how he has his head down. He’s not being abused, honest, just taken outside for a bio break. But he acts like he’s being mistreated when I suit him up.

Of course, James laughed at me when I bought the doggie raincoats. The cold-weather stuff is too small for these beasts, so online it is to find canine winter gear.

Aldi Fashion

Aldi also has a small variety of seasonal basic clothing items in the Aisle of Shame. They’re not high fashion, but they just might be what you need. As much as I’m into fashion sewing, I’ve bought some denim skirts, “jeggings” (jean leggings), a denim jean jacket, a sweater, a quilted vest (keep reading), a few sports bras, bags and purses, shoes, and even some thick fluffy socks from Aldi. You can also find pajamas for both men and women, hoodies, slippers, and men’s clothing items, including socks, although James hasn’t partaken of those.

And when I wear my fluffy socks, I show them to James and say, “You see these socks? Aldi fashion!”

Aldi Gear

Because Aldi has such a faithful following, they occasionally drop what they call “Aldi Gear” in the Aisle of Shame. Clothing, accessories, shopping bags, quarter holders, and other items with the Aldi logo emblazoned are popular and snapped up quickly. From the McComb store, I once bought an Aldi Gear backpack, driving up there specifically for that one item but leaving with more.

Isn’t it great? Even has room for a laptop.

I also got an Aldi Gear steel travel tumbler, which I fill with ice and water and take on occasional shopping trips. It was marked down, too.

Earlier this year, Aldi released some winter Aldi Gear. Although I haven’t worn them yet, I scored a Navy blue sweater with “USA” emblazoned in white across the front, and a Navy blue quilted vest with a small logo. Both were bought after markdowns. I considered getting the white puffer vest, but the zipper didn’t work right. Even though it was considerably inexpensive, I still didn’t get it. White gets dirty fast.

Now they’ve got more Aldi gear, including a fuzzy sherpa jacket. Do I have $14.99 for this one, too?

What Makes Aldi So Popular?

Aldi’s business model is built on efficiency, simplicity, and low cost. This allows the company to offer high-quality groceries at some of the lowest prices in the United States. Aldi stores are smaller compared to traditional supermarkets, reducing rent and utility expenses. It employs fewer staff and features a straightforward store layout to speed up shopping and minimize operational complexities. Customers also participate in bagging their own groceries and returning carts, which helps Aldi cut labor costs.

That quarter rents you the basket. The store is banking on your taking it back and getting your quarter back. Here, some folks don’t understand that, but most return their baskets. I explained to a few folks that “it’s a rental, not a purchase.” For those who don’t return them, the basket’s “rental fee” is paid forward to another shopper who will appreciate that gift.

This lean approach extends to how Aldi stocks its shelves. Stores carry a limited assortment of about 1,700 products, mostly under the store’s own private-label brands. This limited selection reduces inventory costs and simplifies supply chains while maintaining quality comparable to or even better than national brands. By sourcing directly from manufacturers and avoiding brand premiums, Aldi passes these significant savings on to its customers.

A Winning Combo

Aldi’s overwhelming popularity in the U.S. stems from its combination of low prices, good product quality, and a fast, no-frills shopping experience. You’ll notice there’s no music in the stores. Therefore, they don’t pay music royalty fees, which is another savings to pass along. Its private-label dominance means shoppers get affordable products without sacrificing quality. This practice helped to build strong customer trust and loyalty.

Additionally, Aldi’s business culture focuses on consistency and responsibility. The company pays employees well to boost efficiency while emphasizing customer satisfaction over heavy advertising. This approach has helped Aldi rapidly expand across the country, growing its store base and services such as curbside pickup and online delivery, further enhancing convenience for American shoppers. The result is a grocery store that appeals widely to budget-conscious consumers without feeling cheap, which explains its large and growing following in the competitive U.S. market. Yes, even in highly competitive areas like Houston.

Something’s Missing Here

Like every other Aldi store, an employee quickly scans your groceries and puts them into the next basket by the register. Alternatively, self-checkouts are available too. When the cashier finishes, you swap baskets at this point. Once you’ve paid, you’ll take your basket to the long table and bag everything in your own reusable bags (or purchase paper or the reusables). Then proceed to your vehicle and return the basket for a “refund.”

Except this one.

The Mystery

I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I noticed that there was something slightly different about the new local Aldi from the one in McComb. The store’s layout was basically the same, but still, something wasn’t the same as the McComb store. Then one of the employees told me: There were no self-checkout lanes in the local store.

What?

There are four registers in ours, and usually only one is open at a time. (It was all hands on deck at the grand opening.)

They were workin’ it the day of the grand opening!

But because Aldi employees are trained for all the jobs in the store, not just one, they can stop and open more registers during busier periods like Saturday afternoons. Nobody could explain why there were no self-checkout lanes, either.

This made me wonder about something. When the buyout was announced, one of the younger Winn-Dixie cashiers mentioned that her local elderly customers had considerable trouble with the self-checkout lanes. Did that get floated up to management? Or is theft a concern at the self-checkouts, even in Aldi? Whatever the reason, we don’t have an “I Hate People” line in our local Aldi, but McComb still has one. Fortunately, the folks working at Aldi are super friendly. But our Walmart still has self-checkouts with a highly annoying AI system. That’s a story for yet another day.

I Can Aldi Anytime I Want

When I was making the trips up to the McComb Aldi, I tended to buy plenty of food and household things. After all, driving to get more of something we like is a 90-minute round trip plus time for shopping. I always bought a bottle of water with a tasty snack for the 45-minute trip back, or stopped at the nearby Starbucks. Never mind how much I spent on those trips, especially if I was going to buy something from the Aisle of Shame. But I could stock the freezer and the pantry a little better, especially if I found something at 50% off.

But now, I must fight that instinct to buy it all and not just the few things I need. I mean, I can Aldi anytime I want now, right? It hasn’t quite sunk in completely yet. Just know that the Aisle of Shame can be a budget buster.

A New Favorite: Brekki

We have found some new favorites since we can visit Aldi more often. One of those is called Brekki, a cold oatmeal that’s available in the front of the store in the deli section.

This is one of the tastiest things I’ve tried in a while.

Dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan, it’s great for an on-the-go snack or lunchbox extra. You might think they’re cups of yogurt, but they’re not. The Brekki is right there by the readily available pizzas. And thankfully, our store has plenty of take-and-bake pizzas, including the cauliflower type.

I never noticed Brekki before, because in McComb, it’s in the refrigerator case at the store’s back. But for whatever reason, I found them in the local store up front. For a while, I couldn’t stop eating them. But I got at least one or two whenever I went, although now, not so much.

James did not understand what I was talking about. One day, I bought extra Brekkie for him to try. Of the three flavors, cinnamon vanilla, cold brew coffee, and dark chocolate, he liked my favorite, the dark chocolate, the best. He said the cinnamon vanilla was fine, but he refused to try the cold brew coffee flavor. Even though he liked the chocolate, he said it was “just OK.” It wasn’t something that he would eat very often. Of course, he had to remind me that he didn’t like overnight oats the one time I made them for him. Brekki, he says, is just nominally better than that.

Coming Soon: More Aldi

When our local store opened, the Winn-Dixie in Hammond closed for its Aldi conversion. One lady I was waiting with in line said that her daughter worked there, and the store abruptly closed well before March 15^th, and without warning, surprising the now-unemployed workers.

Six months later, Hammond’s Aldi will be opening on Thursday, September 25^th at 9:00 am, and will follow the “soft opening” model the day before. I’m going to try and make this one too.

Aldi is opening new stores all over the country. On Instagram, people are asking them to come to Colorado. I’m sure they will. Seriously, I never thought Aldi would be in Louisiana, let alone a rural area, but here we are. And we’re happy with our Aldi, too.

Keeping Up With Aldi

Like AI, Aldi isn’t going away. If you can’t beat them, join them, so find out about the newest Aldi Finds before they happen:

• Create an account at Aldi’s website and sign up for their emails, including upcoming sales and merchandise.
• Put Aldi’s smartphone app on your phone and allow notifications. You can preview next week’s Aldi Finds on Wednesday morning, under “Weekly Ads.” You’ll have a week to make your plans.
• Follow on social media—Aldi has accounts on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest. I follow on Instagram and Facebook, but I see their stuff mostly on Instagram. Aldi’s social media team is RIGHT ON IT. They have fun with current events and use them on social media, especially for new items.
• Sign up for the weekly emails at AisleOfShame, a non-affiliated website that brings you the newest from Aldi, along with Trader Joe’s, Kroger, and Publix. Sign up using a sidebar box on any one of their blog posts on the website, just like this one. They have a little more information in the emails and blogs about the new drops. The emails include some items I missed in the app previews.

It’s An Aldi Thing

A few months ago, our friend MY and I went somewhere, and on the way back, I took her to our local Aldi and explained things. She didn’t know what the big deal was, but now she’s a convert. Then she told her sister in another city all about Aldi. Guess what? Her sister is now a fan, too.

Aldi has also done other things besides just being a grocery store. Back in March, a little girl named Liliana had her birthday party in her favorite place: Aldi. There was a cake and everything for her. In May, another (unnamed) location hosted a sophisticated “mother’s night out” dining event with elegantly plated food made with Aldi ingredients. Just recently, there was an Aldi component to someone’s wedding. I saw these detailed events in their Instagram posts.

If you already have an Aldi in your area, you already know. If you don’t, and one is coming, get ready. Granted, it really is just a grocery store with a little more. But that little more can make a big difference.

There’s always a place for larger supermarkets like HEB, and we still shop at Walmart (it’s what we have here.) Occasionally, when we go to Hammond, there is still an occasional trip into Rouses or Albertson’s for something we need. But for basic, everyday shopping, Aldi is a great choice.

Happy Shopping!