tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post7143548985772976920..comments2023-12-15T04:43:49.939-06:00Comments on Community Beat: Aldi Syndrome: The Mixed-Income ConundrumPatrick Barryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12109856160393980550noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-42350105477092597642009-03-17T15:53:00.000-05:002009-03-17T15:53:00.000-05:00i really don't understand the hostility that I've ...i really don't understand the hostility that I've seen expressed about Aldi in Uptown and now in Edgewater and Rogers Park. I love the new Aldi in Uptown and buy the majority of my groceries there. It's clean, it IS well-lit, it has quality products, including fresh produce and meats, and, best of all, it's 30 to 50 percent cheaper than other supermarkets in this area.<BR/>I wonder if people Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-74580746400009105152009-03-16T22:34:00.000-05:002009-03-16T22:34:00.000-05:00Now if I remember correctly Aldi's & Trade...Now if I remember correctly Aldi's & Trader Joe's are both owned by the same German company. Actually when you think about it the store size and some of the layout/format is the same -- the difference is price points & markets servedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-68318416635903856742009-03-16T10:19:00.000-05:002009-03-16T10:19:00.000-05:00Trader Joe's is totally awesome. Everyone should g...Trader Joe's is totally awesome. Everyone should go. Aldi is also pretty cool, though I must admit I've shopped at the one in my college town much more often than the local Aldis (plural, not possesive). I think any community would benefit from either.Hughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08189452502507566570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-86739920655968499182009-03-14T12:25:00.000-05:002009-03-14T12:25:00.000-05:00I remember well the eruption of controversy over t...I remember well the eruption of controversy over the Aldi in West Haven at the first New Communities Program quality-of-life meeting in August 2007 -- and I probably will if I live to be 110. <BR/><BR/>Particularly vivid is the memory of the yupster who charged that the staff of Near West CDC "kind of half-assed it" when they focused on Aldi rather than another less discount-y chain. There was Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-44701772132244536782009-03-14T09:41:00.000-05:002009-03-14T09:41:00.000-05:00Thanks, Joel. That Aldi on Pulaski was the one I s...Thanks, Joel. That Aldi on Pulaski was the one I shopped at, while the kid was doing gymnastics at the North Park Village gym.<BR/><BR/>I think Edgewater residents might find the new store useful in the same way: a place to grab a few items on the way home from work or classes at Loyola.Patrick Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12109856160393980550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-87713274835427697272009-03-13T23:10:00.000-05:002009-03-13T23:10:00.000-05:00Patrick, you sure struck a nerve with this one. Th...Patrick, you sure struck a nerve with this one. There are a bunch of different issues here. <BR/><BR/>Several years ago, I helped bring an Aldi's to Pulaski Road in Albany Park, so we would have some good, low-cost choices to compete with Dominick's. At the time, their reputation was one of running sloppy stores. Their management was very difficult to deal with, and certainly not Joel Bookmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11847272730951387213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-56602825755848803972009-03-13T21:24:00.000-05:002009-03-13T21:24:00.000-05:00Wonderful comments, people, thanks much. Me, I sho...Wonderful comments, people, thanks much. Me, I shopped at an Aldi for two or three years when I could squeeze in the trip while our daughter was down the street at the park district. Limited selection, yes, but great prices on produce, milk, cheese.<BR/><BR/>In the spirit of the balanced discussion, I'll acknowledge that my wife and I are rooting for a Trader Joes. We would have shopped at Patrick Barryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12109856160393980550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-20488070186503038692009-03-13T18:25:00.000-05:002009-03-13T18:25:00.000-05:00Hugh,I'm with ya' in spirit, if not in tone. I'm ...Hugh,<BR/><BR/>I'm with ya' in spirit, if not in tone. I'm going to go ahead and consider any disagreements that we may have to be respectful disagreements.<BR/><BR/>Me? I'm a smart-ass by trade; but, that certainly doesn't mean I assume to know everything -- just almost everything ;)<BR/><BR/>Still, it'd be nice to see your input on UU more. Based on the small bit I've seen, you've got the yohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07400816063541009591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-63053243478716699782009-03-13T16:17:00.000-05:002009-03-13T16:17:00.000-05:00Yo, we probably agree more than we disagree. I do ...Yo, we probably agree more than we disagree. I do not support the Alderman and I am not connected at all to her and I am not by any means defending her. I feel the concentration of violence and homelessness in the area is shameful, dangerous, and unpleasant to everyone, and that things need to change, as I'm sure you also agree. I also agree that UU's isn't a journalistic institution. <BR/><BR/>Hughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08189452502507566570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-18284551272776055072009-03-13T15:37:00.000-05:002009-03-13T15:37:00.000-05:00I did not mean to imply that you said condo owners...I did not mean to imply that you said condo owners were evil. My apologies if I came across that way.<BR/><BR/>I do agree with you on the point that larger systemic forces are at work and should be discussed in a rational way; however, I think one area where you and I disagree is on style.<BR/><BR/>I will not argue that Uptown Update isn't dripping with snark; but, is that a bad thing?<BR/><BR/>yohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07400816063541009591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-375061322476392182009-03-13T14:13:00.000-05:002009-03-13T14:13:00.000-05:00A lot of people struggle with feelings around gent...A lot of people struggle with feelings around gentrification, and I feel that's okay. There are a lot of tricky problems with no obvious answers. I think trying our best to be humble, thoughtful, and open about these issues is much more helpful than blaming and shrieking sound bites and slogans, which often happens in our conversations about it.Hughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08189452502507566570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-40143233136021399922009-03-13T14:01:00.000-05:002009-03-13T14:01:00.000-05:00Wow, that's really interesting. I have to admit th...Wow, that's really interesting. I have to admit that as a condo owner (not an evil one, I swear) I wouldn't have been too happy about an Aldi being built in my neighborhood prior to reading this. (Even though i regularly go to Uptown to shop there.)<BR/><BR/>But now I feel properly shamed for thinking that way.<BR/><BR/>The idea of gentrification is a tricky subject and something I have an Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-41270084579933966592009-03-13T13:51:00.000-05:002009-03-13T13:51:00.000-05:00well said Hugh. I've got the same feelings about ...well said Hugh. I've got the same feelings about Uptown Update, and will also miss good journalism about the far north side.Frankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10713559078878686508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-36728276969374767152009-03-13T13:40:00.000-05:002009-03-13T13:40:00.000-05:00I never said condo owners are evil. Many are engag...I never said condo owners are evil. Many are engaged and caring people, I'm sure.<BR/><BR/>I do agree that our Alderman exploits low-income people politically and is not responsive to the changing community. I don't agree with the Wicked Witch of the West way people talk about her - as if she is the source of all woe in the area and if we just got rid of her, everything would be cool. There are Hughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08189452502507566570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-40880493143653325942009-03-13T12:54:00.000-05:002009-03-13T12:54:00.000-05:00From my experience, that nasty tone is not directe...From my experience, that nasty tone is not directed at lower income people. In fact, much of the antagonism I have seen is directed at how the lower income people are constantly being taken advantage of for political purposes; and the frustration resulting from that.<BR/><BR/>While I am sure there are some who detest the poor, I'm equally assured that sentiment is reversible, to include "electedyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07400816063541009591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-65205297227938627532009-03-13T12:47:00.000-05:002009-03-13T12:47:00.000-05:00I love that the News Star called it "Aldi's". Obv...I love that the News Star called it "Aldi's". Obviously they have real Chicagoans writing for them!<BR/><BR/>Most of the snobs who diss Aldi have never shopped there. Where can you get lean ground turkey breast and dill havarti for 40% less than anywhere else?aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01511398498867717915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-633749375876915576.post-16998691133631526842009-03-13T10:02:00.000-05:002009-03-13T10:02:00.000-05:00Great post - I know I'll miss the News-Star report...Great post - I know I'll miss the News-Star reporting on Uptown. Sadly the bloggers covering the neighborhood most closely do so with a nasty tone towards lower income people.<BR/><BR/>I posted this story on WindyCitizen.com - more people should be having sensible conversations about issues like this in their neighborhood.Hughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08189452502507566570noreply@blogger.com