Connecticut Gets a Second Aldi in Bristol on Oct. 29. What You Should Know Before Opening Day
If you used to hunt for bargains at the old Big Lots on Farmington Avenue, you better be prepared to shop for groceries next time.
Here’s what Connecticut shoppers should know before Bristol’s second Aldi opens on Oct. 29.
Sneak Peek and Opening Day
A Nexstar roundup of Aldi’s upcoming openings lists the new Bristol store at 1235 Farmington Avenue with a sneak peek on Wednesday, Oct. 28, and grand opening events the following day, according to Aldi.
Aldi has run a Golden Ticket giveaway for the first 200 customers at some recent openings.
At its first Maine store, in Portland, Aldi’s release said those customers would get gift bags of Aldi products and a gift card.
Bristol’s giveaway terms are best confirmed on Aldi’s store page before you line up early.
Aldi’s East Windsor store, at 151 Prospect Hill Road, held its grand opening on Oct. 1, the Hartford television station WFSB reported, so Bristol’s arrives four weeks later.
Former Big Lots Space
Aldi’s new Bristol store takes over half of the former Big Lots building at 1235 Farmington Avenue, in Bristol Plaza.
Aldi and American Liquidations are each getting about 22,000 square feet.
American Liquidations, which also has locations in Waterbury and Milford, wholesales retail liquidation pallets.
Big Lots announced in October 2024 that it was closing the Bristol location, part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy in which the chain was closing more than 300 stores.
Two tenants, one building.
Justin Malley, Bristol’s executive director of economic and community development, called that split unusual.
Many big-box spaces in Bristol and nearby towns are becoming available, he noted, and they can be hard to fill.
If you live in northeast Bristol, Malley told the Press, the plaza is well positioned for you, along with parts of Farmington, Burlington and Plainville.
American Liquidations has substantial interior work ahead, while the plaza itself will get minor changes such as landscaping.
He said in April that both tenants hoped to open by fall or early winter.
Aldi’s other Bristol store, at 110 Middle Street, has been Aldi-owned since 1999, according to city records the Press cited.
Psst! How much do you know about the history of the grocery store? Take our quiz and see if you can ace it.
Quiz
Grocery History Quiz
Answer these questions on Connecticut food firsts and the history of the supermarket. We bet you can’t get them all right. Prove us wrong?
Louis’ Lunch in New Haven is credited with serving America’s first hamburger in 1900. What did Louis Lassen put the broiled ground beef between?
What to Bring on Opening Day
Bring a quarter.
Carts at the new Bristol Aldi unlock with a quarter, and you get it back when you return the cart.
Bring reusable grocery bags too, or buy a few at checkout.
You don't need a membership to shop at Aldi.
Aldi says bringing bags from home, or packing into its reusable bags, helps keep checkout lines moving faster.
The store accepts cash, most debit cards, and Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
It takes Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay.
The company says it doesn't accept checks or Women, Infants and Children (WIC) benefits at this time.
Leave the manufacturer's coupons at home. Aldi says it is unable to accept them because it negotiates prices directly with suppliers for its name-brand items.
Aldi also says it doesn't offer online coupons, so a coupon you find online or on social media isn't a legitimate Aldi coupon.
If you try an Aldi-exclusive product on opening day and don't like it, Aldi's Twice as Nice guarantee lets you bring it back for a refund and a replacement.
Aldi also features nearly 100 limited-time Aldi Finds each week, and some of them sell out quickly.
Fall Price Cuts and Thanksgiving
The Bristol store opens while Aldi's fall price cuts are in effect, from Sept. 23 until at least Nov. 3.
Aldi says nearly one-third of the products on its shelves every day are priced lower than they were last year.
Honeycrisp apples are $1.99 for a two-pound bag, 35% lower than last year.
Kirkwood chicken breast family packs are $1.99 a pound, the lowest everyday price since 2022.
If you plan to start your Thanksgiving shopping at the new store, Aldi's meal for 10 costs under $39 and is on sale from Oct. 14 through Nov. 25.
What Is in Aldi's Thanksgiving Meal for 10
Aldi's Thanksgiving meal for 10 works out to less than $4 per person.
It centers on a 16-pound Farmer's Choice turkey.
Sides include three Chef's Cupboard stuffing mixes, 12 ounces of cranberries, three pounds of sweet potatoes, baby peeled carrots, celery and two Season's Choice steamable frozen peas.
L'oven Fresh Hawaiian sweet rolls go on the table too.
For dessert, the list has Baker's Corner pumpkin pie mix and Bake House Creations pie crusts, plus Friendly Farms whole milk and heavy whipping cream.
Aldi says the meal comes with no coupons, loyalty cards, minimum purchases or memberships required.
Thanksgiving Dates to Watch
Check the calendar.
Some items start later. Cranberries are available from Oct. 26, the turkey from Nov. 4 and the pumpkin pie mix from Nov. 11.
Aldi lists the turkey after Bristol's opening day, so you can't buy the full meal on Oct. 29.
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