Discount grocer Aldi is moving quickly to fill some of the Valley’s bigger retail holes, locking in multi-year leases for three large storefronts across metro Phoenix that were left empty by a Big Lots and a local trampoline park. The new deals keep feeding a broader trend of grocers and value retailers swooping into oversized boxes that other chains have abandoned.
According to the Phoenix Business Journal, Aldi’s latest leases cover properties in Peoria, Cave Creek and Phoenix, with at least one of those spaces previously occupied by Big Lots. Reporter Brandon Brown notes that the agreements are multi-year commitments, although firm opening dates for the three stores have not been disclosed.
ALDI’s push into these sites lines up with a larger local expansion. A company news release highlighted by ABC15 says the grocer plans to open 10 new Phoenix-area stores in 2026 and grow to roughly 40 locations by 2030. Nationally, Aldi has outlined a roughly $9 billion U.S. investment through 2028 and plans new distribution centers to support that growth, according to reporting from KJZZ.
Big Boxes Turning Into Grocery Real Estate
Commercial real-estate watchers say the vacancies left behind by mid-size chains have turned into prime hunting grounds for expanding grocers and national tenants. An industry note from Avison Young points to mass closures by retailers such as Big Lots and Party City, which have freed up spaces ranging from 10,000 to 85,000 square feet across the Valley. That steady pipeline of big-box vacancies makes it easier for chains like Aldi to step into large formats and rework them for grocery use.
What Shoppers And Landlords Can Expect
For shoppers, a new Aldi typically means lower-priced private-label staples on the shelves and a fresh round of competition for nearby supermarkets and discount chains. For landlords, landing a national grocer on a long-term lease can help steady an entire strip center. Industry coverage suggests Aldi’s store-and-distribution buildout could spur even more big-box conversions around metro Phoenix, KJZZ reports.
Aldi opened its first Arizona store in Goodyear in 2021, and the latest lease signings underscore the chain’s intention to deepen its Phoenix footprint, the Phoenix Business Journal notes. Specific opening dates for the three newly leased locations have not yet been announced.
