Aldi has quietly taken a big step toward its Colorado debut, filing paperwork this week for its first Denver supermarkets in the Central Park neighborhood and near Denver International Airport. The plans call for single-story stores of roughly 19,000 to 20,000 square feet, on-site parking, and the chain’s usual formula of mostly private-label groceries, a streamlined selection, and aggressive discount pricing. The submissions also show both locations are expected to sell beer and wine and would plug into a wave of new retail development in east Denver. For now, the filings are the clearest sign that Aldi is shifting from big announcements to actual real estate moves in the state.
Where the stores would go
According to The Denver Post, city records list a Central Park site at 9111 E. 40th Ave. for a planned 19,432-square-foot store with 109 parking spaces and beer and wine sales. The Post also notes a second proposal for 18453 E. 57th Ave., near Tower Road and DIA, where plans call for a 19,957-square-foot Aldi on about 2.37 acres with roughly 90 parking spaces. Local engineering firm Atwell LLC submitted the paperwork on behalf of Aldi Real Estate Inc., according to the filings.
Aldi's Colorado push
In January, ALDI rolled out a five-year plan to crack the Colorado market, announcing about 50 stores for the Denver and Colorado Springs areas and a new distribution center in Aurora, as outlined in an ALDI press release. In that announcement, CEO Atty McGrath said the investments are designed so customers "can continue to count on us for quality, affordable groceries." The Aurora distribution hub is projected to open around 2029 and, the company said, will bring hundreds of jobs to the region.
Local competition and what shoppers will see
Developers and city planners say Central Park is already in the middle of a full-on grocery buildout, with Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, Natural Grocers, and Walmart all in the mix. BusinessDen reported the Central Park Aldi would slot in between a Cracker Barrel and a Chick-fil-A, while the east-of-airport site would sit near a cluster of newer retail projects along Tower Road. For shoppers, an Aldi typically means a smaller footprint than a traditional supermarket, a heavy emphasis on house brands, and sharply lower prices on everyday staples, even if that comes with fewer choices on the shelves.
Timeline and next steps
City planners will now dig into the site plans and permit applications before any construction starts. Projects of this size usually require public notices and multiple rounds of approvals. The Denver Business Journal noted these filings are an early stage in a possible buildout, and that actual timelines will hinge on city sign-offs, financing, and contractor schedules. If ALDI keeps to its typical national rollout pace, some Colorado stores could open within the next two years, with the Aurora distribution center landing later in the decade.
Aldi’s arrival is expected to tighten the screws on east Denver’s grocery competition, where lower everyday prices could shift where neighbors choose to stock their fridges each week. Companywide, ALDI says its broader U.S. strategy will push its store count toward roughly 3,200 by 2028 and generate hundreds of logistics and store jobs around the planned Aurora hub. In its ALDI release, the grocer framed the Colorado buildout as part of a larger push to keep shelves full and prices low for shoppers watching their budgets.
