Aldi

Let’s break it down:
Pros:
— Friendly, helpful staff
— Best prices of all local grocers
— Fast and convenient shopping
— House brands on par with most national brands at a significant savings
Cons:
— Inconsistent with some of their products, many items only being «seasonal» or are on clearance
— Not enough Asian foods. There’s plenty of tortillas, beans, and hot/​chile/​enchilada to choose from if you’re into Tex-​Mex, but they’re lacking in oyster/​soy/​hoisin sauces, rice noodles and other flavors with a Far Eastern flare.
— Lacking in vegetarian/​meat alternatives
Despite the list, the pros far outweigh the cons. I can get 90% of my grocery shopping needs here. Thumbs up.

Aldi, from the bottom of my heart, I am really sorry for judging you. I used to be an asshole and thought you were a bottom-​feeding grocery store. Seriously, I’m sorry.
Aldi, I usually shop at your brother store Trader Joe’s, but you fill in the gaps nicely especially on a weeknight when I just need to grab a few things and I love that you are just down the road. On one of the first nice nights this spring, I stopped by to get a handful of items for grilling and I left with a bag of groceries for $ 15 and some of the most delicious feta-​stuffed turkey brats ever.
As mentioned above, Aldi is not my primary grocery store (that is why I’m taking off one star) because you are not always guaranteed to get what you are coming in for. One time I needed eggs and my Aldi had no eggs. I wouldn’t do all of my grocery shopping here but hey, you know, I usually get what I need and it’s HELLA cheaper than anywhere else. If I can get cheaper groceries by getting and returning my own cart, bringing my own bags, and bagging my own groceries, I’m all for it.
The beauty of Aldi is the mix of products. They carry a mix of name brand and their brand and everything their brand is just as good of quality. Plus, a lot of the name brand items are a couple bucks cheaper than anywhere else. On my last trip in, I was able to get a big bottle of Bolthouse juice for $ 4 and that usually goes for $ 6 – 7 at a different grocery store. The produce section tends to be pretty legit, too. Everything is seasonal and seriously, way cheaper than elsewhere. I also love all of the random weekly finds. We got our toolbox here (it was like $ 9! Woo!) last summer, we buy some of their plants during the summer, and I also love the random German products that they occasionally carry.
With Aldi, you need to get over the fact that nothing is fancy, most non-​perishable items are just set out in their boxes, and that the set-​up is a little awkward until you know what you’re doing. However, if you’re at all a penny pincher, you won’t continue to drive past this place!

So, I’m a broke college kid. I could be a millionaire one day and still come here. Just a mile up the road from where I live, it’s the most convenient thing for me. Any time that I can buy something for ¼ the price of what I’ve seen at the major grocery store in town wins me over. Often enough I’ll walk out of there with a paper bag full of groceries and have spent $ 10-​$ 15. Not your typical grocery outing.
The cart scenario is weird until you know what you’re doing. Walk up with your quarter, put it in the slot, push it in and your cart will unlock from it’s line of friends. When you’re done, lock it back in and your quarter pops out. You’re not really paying for anything there.
I get really excited over the produce section because of how reasonably priced the items are. Fresh mangoes, bananas, oranges, what have you. When you buy the berries they are usually at their peak within the day or two that you buy them so you have to eat them up quick. No problem there though, because they taste their best then.
It’s another one of the eco-​friendly wanna be places that doesn’t provide bags unless you’re purchasing the cloth ones. No biggie. Just bring a couple you have stashed under the kitchen sink and you’re good to go.
The employees are really some of the greatest I’ve seen anywhere. It’s not 14 year old Johnny slouching behind the register incapable of uttering «hello» or making eye contact. It’s full of friendly, helpful, cool, hardworking staff who should probably get paid more for all that they do at the store.
If you asked my sister she would freak at the mention of going to Aldi, but really. It’s a good place. Why pay more than you have to, really?
I’d give it a 5^th star, except you have to always check the expiration dates. Also, some of their products come and go in waves so you can’t guarantee that something you liked from your last trip will still be there the next time.