Aldi announces June 1 grand opening date

Aldi has announced that its new Downey grocery store will open June 1.

A grand opening celebration is scheduled for 8:25 a.m. with the first 100 shoppers receiving a “golden ticket” that contains Aldi gift cards of various amounts.

The Downey store, located at 11215 Lakewood Blvd., features bright colors, high ceilings, natural lighting, energy-saving refrigeration and LED lighting. It was built using recycled materials, Aldi officials said.

Aldi is also opening a Santa Fe Springs location, at 13210 Telegraph Rd., which opens May 25.

“We’re thrilled to join the Santa Fe Springs and Downey communities and offer customers the benefits of the Aldi shopping experience,” said John Alvarez, director of operations for Aldi in Moreno Valley. “Our stores are easy to navigate, so it’s easy for shoppers to get in, get what they need and continue on with their day knowing they left with a shopping cart full of groceries that fit their lifestyle and save them money.”

Aldi stores are smaller than traditional grocery stores and utilize a shopping cart rental system: insert a quarter to release a shopping cart from the corral and receive the quarter back upon returning the cart.

Operating hours will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week.