Residents' reactions mixed on 16th Avenue Winn-Dixie being replaced with Aldi

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) -Another Aldi supermarket is coming to Gainesville which will make three in town. It is replacing one of the winn-dixie stores. Some unhappy residents started a change.org petition to keep their beloved Winn-Dixie.

Aldi is converting 50 Winn Dixie stores by the end of 2024 and is set to be open by 2025.

The 16th Avenue Winn-Dixie in Gainesville has been around since 1997. That location is scheduled to be closed on December 8th.

Marrivi Suarez a resident who shops at the Winn-Dixie, says she will be coming to this store until the last possible day.

“They have products Aldi won’t have, like the Spanish products, and foreign products that Aldi won’t have. They have more variety in everything you know. Not like Aldi you only get specific things there, not everything,” added Suarez.

Mary Hammonds is another fan of Winn-Dixie and tells me she will just have to find another to go to.

“I don’t know if me and Aldi will get along. Some of the things that Winn-Dixie has I love and Aldi will not have that,” said Hammonds.

Some community residents are thrilled to know that Aldi will be taking over. Michelle Owens tells me this will be a good option for people who want to spend less money on groceries.

“They are better than a lot of our name brands and I spend significantly less shopping at Aldi than I do anywhere else,” added Owens.

RELATED: Petition made to stop a Winn-Dixie from being converted to an Aldi

Another Aldi lover, Larry Henderson is from Micanopy. He says he will be in this area more after hearing the news that three Aldi’s will be in Gainesville.

“I will be here a lot more than I would be here for Winn-Dixie so it’s going to be a good move,” said Henderson.

The news of Winn-Dixie converting to an Aldi has caused some employees to quit not knowing if their job is secure. Workers have already started packing up and the store will close on December 8th.

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