As Bottom Dollar prepares to shut stores, some in Philly in despair

Cost-conscious shoppers across Pennsylvania will soon have to find another place to buy groceries. Sixty-six discount Bottom Dollar stores are slated to close this month. 

Bottom Dollar is being taken over by the Aldi supermarket chain.  It’s not clear what the fate of its Pennsylvania stores will be.

The Rev. Chester Williams, president of the Chew and Belfield Neighbors CIub in Northwest Philadelphia, said residents are praying for the neighborhood Bottom Dollar store, which just opened a year ago.

“I’m getting calls day and night from all ages group asking, ‘Is Aldi going to open a store or where are we going to go from here?” he said. “‘Do we have to go back to what we used to do — going far away to stores and especially for the fresh produce?'”

Williams said the easy access to the grocery store is important especially for senior citizens.

In a statement, Aldi spokeswoman Julie Ketay declined to speculate on future plans for the Bottom Dollar stores. The real estate deal is still being finalized, and she said it would be premature to discuss specifics.”

The closure of the 66 stores in Pennsylvania and New Jersey will leave 2,200 workers without jobs. A Bottom Dollar representative said workers will be offered career transition services

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CBNC LETER to ALDI INC (PDF)

CBNC LETER to ALDI INC (Text)