Overview
- The Aldi at Sherman and Custer closed permanently on Jan. 11, with a sign posted at the store announcing the shutdown.
- Aldi said the move was a strategic effort to better allocate resources, while Alderwoman Andrea Pratt called it divestment and noted staff and resources would shift to other locations.
- City data show 118,900 residents live more than a mile from a grocery store and about 18.4% of households lack cars, intensifying the impact of closures.
- The shutdown follows last year’s Pick ’n Save closure in Metcalfe Park and is part of at least five major chain exits since 2021, with remaining chains concentrated downtown and on the south side.
- Local officials warn of higher costs and longer trips for residents, County Executive David Crowley urges support for local entrepreneurs, and Sherman Park Grocery reports thin margins, staffing shortages, and security concerns.