Englewood is cranking up a long-running push to bring life back to its dark big-box stores and empty storefronts, and city leaders say they have gone straight to national grocers in search of a new anchor tenant. Along the South Broadway corridor, a string of departed household names has left behind hulking vacancies and fewer customers for the shops that remain. While city staff market the empty properties, they are also looking at new tools to keep owners from letting buildings sit idle for years. Neighbors say they want everyday, reliable businesses, not more asphalt and "for lease" signs.
According to Westword, Englewood's Community Development team reported in a January newsletter that staff have reached out to ALDI's corporate real estate team as well as a local ALDI representative about opening a store in the city. The newsletter, as cited by Westword, said ALDI "expressed optimism" about Englewood but that "there are no viable purchase options available for the company at the moment." City officials told Westword they plan to keep the conversation with ALDI going while they work on other deals.
ALDI's national growth spurt makes that courtship more than wishful thinking. The chain has announced a brisk U.S. expansion that includes more than 180 new stores in 2026 and plans for more than 50 additional locations across the Denver-Colorado Springs region over the coming years, according to RetailTouchPoints. A buildout on that scale would give ALDI the regional presence it typically wants before committing to specific neighborhood sites.
Even as Englewood waits on a potential grocer, some of its empty spaces are already getting a second act. The longtime Frank the Pizza King property has been sold to a used-car dealer, and plans for an auto lot have been submitted, according to Colorado Community Media. The former Walgreens at 3080 South Broadway also has a new future lined up. Franchise operator Tierra Encantada has announced Denver-area centers that include an Englewood location, according to an industry release from the International Franchise Association. These kinds of conversions show that some landlords are landing tenants without waiting for a marquee national retailer.
How Englewood Is Marketing Its Empty Heavyweights
City staff say brokers are actively pitching the vacant Safeway and Starbucks buildings along with a mix of other properties, while commercial listings tell the broader story. The CommercialSearch marketplace currently shows roughly 129 commercial properties available for lease in Englewood, according to CommercialSearch. At the same time, council members have asked the city attorney to prepare an owner registry ordinance aimed at nudging absentee owners to maintain or redevelop vacant buildings, Westword reports.
Why An Aldi Could Change The Game
An ALDI store would serve as a daily magnet for shoppers and could help support a cluster of smaller retailers around it, something city staff and market watchers say matters in corridors where big brands have pulled out. Analysts have pointed out that ALDI's low-price model and scale can quickly shift local shopping habits and boost traffic for neighboring businesses, according to RetailTouchPoints. The timing is still a question mark, though, since national rollouts hinge on distribution capacity and a critical mass of local sites that fit ALDI's preferred format.
For now, Englewood is leaning on outreach and options. Staff are continuing to pitch the largest open parcels to national chains while working to match smaller local concepts with new spaces. City officials acknowledge that redevelopment and fresh leases do not happen overnight, but say the mix of quick-turn conversions and the possibility of a grocery anchor could give South Broadway a very different feel over the next few years. Residents and merchants will be watching to see whether the next big tenant ends up being a discount grocer, a homegrown venture, or another temporary stopgap.
