ALDI — Local services in Fruitport Charter Township

Sort of torn about how to rate Aldi's, tbh. My children frequently shop here for their family groceries and recommend for the reduced prices. This was my 1st experience.

TLDR impression - 5 stars if you're shopping for a large family, are healthy & willing to put some extra effort into the process, and you have more time than money. 3 stars if you need a bit of convenience, have some brand loyalty and feel a few cents more per item is a worthwhile exchange to get exactly what you want.

For those unfamiliar, Aldi's is basically an outlet store. The brand & item selection varies from week to week, because they stock from buying up bulk items from other places. These will include overstocks, close to expiration lots, and off-brands that may not have sold well wherever they were stocked initially.

Handicapped parking at this location is at the front of the building, further from the entrance than the pickup line. There are shopping carts available, but you must unlock the cart with a quarter, then somehow unchain the cart. You get the quarter back when you return the cart. It didn't look very disability-friendly to me and I was looking for 1 particular item so didn't attempt the procedure.

Inside, the building isn't super large - I don't think I would need a huge recovery from shopping if I perused all the shelving. I was looking for a frozen item, and the freezer aisles are right up front, so it was a simple task for me. Visited on a Wed around 4 pm & there was only 1 lane open with a line of 6 people, all with carts. My 1 item was available, but I didn't want to stand in that line for it. I left without purchasing.

For a quick in & out to pick up a small item - I don't think it's qoeth the hassle. Back when I had to feed a family of 6 and could zip through aisles quickly I absolutely would have gone here 1st before finishing my weekly grocery shopping at a larger place.

In this time of rising prices, Aldi's may be just what you need to help tame your grocery bills. It's def worth trying. Whether it's for you is all about perspective & your needs. I recommend a visit to see...

It's an Aldi's store.

More seriously, it's a nice little grocery store that has plenty of most types of food items at decent prices. You might not find certain regional items or world foods, but they have a great selection of pretty much everything else. Fresh produce, dairy, a huge variety of meats and cheeses, frozen foods, dry grains and spices... They've got nearly everything you'd expect and then some.

They have a HUGE parking lot for the size of the store and are right next to an Asian buffet, which makes pregaming your shopping experience easier so you're not doing it on an empty stomach. Plus there are at least six fast food places (and multiple dine in places) nearby for the same purpose.

The only concern is that they are only a few dozen yards away from a Meijer store, which can make deciding to drop in somewhat of a gamble.

Extra points in their favor for allowing their cashiers to sit down while working. Such a basic bit of human dignity...

Hit and miss. You won't find everything here especially if you're particular about brands and flavors. For example, I checked for parsley and didn't find it. I wanted to browse choices for Riesling, not much there. Had to go somewhere else. I was pleasantly surprised to find unique items and good quality meat for cheap. But a friend told me that sometimes the stuff they carry comes and goes. I don't like that it's a gamble because then I'm pressured to buy on the spot "just in case".

On the positive side, I do appreciate the fact that they encourage reusable bags, as they don't carry regular plastic bags at all. They also charge a deposit for carts to avoid needing more workers, thus minimizing costs. It's not a huge store, but if you just need basic stuff,...