Flawed Social Perception

A recent zoning decision has been hailed as a victory for the community. Why? Because it means that an Aldi store can’t be built where they wanted to build it. Frankly, I don’t see it. Aldi is Good.

I’ll admit that we don’t live in the fanciest part of town, and so it’s understandable if you want to associate our Aldi with people who want, well, low-cost groceries. What I don’t get is why that’s a bad thing.

Apparently the reason why the neighborhood should be happy is because all those wonderful creative class people hanging out in the funky Plaza-Midwood area don’t want low-cost groceries. Huh? They are the epitome of people who want low-cost groceries. Have these people never attended college and seen their housemates wait for the ramen sale so they could get 12 packs for a buck instead of 10? These people are all about low-cost groceries.

So maybe it’s something different. Maybe they just don’t like the people that tend to shop at an Aldi. I don’t think they’re right, but let’s look at it. The last Aldi to be built in the area that I can recall is over towards Matthews. In fact, it’s the closest full-fledged grocery to downtown Matthews. Are you going to tell me that Matthews is full of undesireables? Well, I might agree, but I know people in Matthews. Generally speaking, it’s fairly well regarded.

With this in mind, tell me please what it is that I’m missing.


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3 responses to “Flawed Social Perception”

  1. armanda Avatar
    armanda

    Hi, this comment is for John as well as Chad, I guess that the other stores that you listed don’t sell ramen noodles or potato chips? Healthy living is food choices, so Aldi doesn’t carry bean sprouts, who the hell eats them anywhere. What Aldi does sell are basics, things that people buy all the time, I guess that means their broccoli will be a lot fresher than the bean sprouts you are gonna get somewhere else.

  2. Chad Everett Avatar

    And that’s the part that I don’t get. Low cost does indeed not have to mean low quality. The lower cost at Aldi does not mean low quality.

    As to where I live? I live towards Eastland Mall, near the Aldi on Albemarle Road. There are plenty of shopping options.

    There is a Bi-Lo, a Food Lion, a Harris Teeter, and at least two others (with names I can’t recall, that have both low cost and low quality) within a mile or so. I’d much rather have the Aldi than nearly any of them, and that includes those larger stores and the brand-spanking new Harris Teeter at Margaret Wallace and Idlewild that has yet to open.

  3. john Avatar
    john

    Chad, what you are missing is the larger picture. As a home-owner and chef that lives in Merry Oaks, I can tell you first hand what Aldi would do for us. Nothing. The level of commitment in quality to our food and our lives is simply not there. There is a link between wellness of being and proper nutrition. Ramen noodles don’t factor in very well. I know as I have consumed my fair share. Chris Ogunrinde used to be my landlord and I am shocked that Neighboring Concepts would support this development. I think the Harris Teeter, Winn Dixie and Food Lion within a mile and a half radius give plenty of shoping options. Where do you live Chad? Low cost dosen’t have to mean low quality. Undesiredbles need to be defined then re-defined. Give us a park instead or better yet… Don’t develop it. Just go away. Thanks