CHICAGO – Without warning, a popular grocery store packed up and moved out of downtown. Pullman West neighborhood – forcing an existing food desert to expand.

Aldi closed its store near 115th and Halsted on Sunday, Nov. 10 — a year after assuring the community of its commitment to the neighborhood, according to 21st Ward Alderman Ronnie Mosley.

“That assurance has now been broken,” Mosley said.

The abrupt closure left residents and officials disappointed and worried about what comes next.

“We are becoming more and more of a food desert. We don’t have local stores to shop and get some of our pharmaceuticals, some of our dietary needs and the things we need to survive day to day.” , said community member Melissa Durham-Richards. “People have to eat, it’s an important part of life, and it’s a representation of what’s to come.”

Shoppers were in the store, located at 821 W. 115th St., for the last time Sunday, but most of them didn’t know they wouldn’t return.

Mosley said his office received a call from Aldi representatives last Thursday, giving him just three days’ notice of their decision to close, a decision he described as “final.”

The store’s closure means access to fresh food has become much more difficult for residents of the Far South Side neighborhood. It was already considered a food desert, and now Mosley says some neighbors are no longer within walking distance of a store offering quality food, meats and fresh produce.

“Walkability is important for neighborhoods, where do you go to school, where do you shop,” Mosley said. “Here, residents have the opportunity to leave their homes, go shopping and return home before their ice cream starts to melt. Now can you imagine a one-hour bus ride?”

As of Tuesday, all Aldi signage had been removed from the West Pullman location.

“They even took the carts,” said community member Tanya Squalls.

On the same corner, Walgreens closed its doors last year. That’s when Mosley said he spoke with representatives from Aldi, who assured him they were here to stay and even expressed interest in a renovation.

“It was shocking to get this call out of the blue, not saying they were about to start renovations, but that they were doing the opposite, that they were closing,” Mosley said.

The news also frustrated residents, like Squalls and Durham-Richards.

“I was on my way over here and I looked and I said, ‘oh my God, they’re closed,’ and I’m trying to figure out why they’re closed because I shop here all the time.” , Squalls said. .

“I come here a lot and I see a lot of older people come and shop at a little smaller store. They knew where everything was and knew what to buy and take, and it was economical and affordable,” Durham-Richards said .

The same goes for Abu Bakr Nurruddin, who walks about four blocks to the store several times a week.

“What is the purpose of Aldi? Because it’s a busy store, people shop there every day,” Nurruddin said.

Mosley pledged to continue working to bring quality food options back to the 21st Ward and encourages community members to stay engaged in the process.

An Aldi spokesperson sent FOX 32 Chicago the following statement regarding the recent closure:

“ALDI has made the difficult decision to close two stores in Chicago. The last day our location at 1836 N. Clybourn in Lincoln Park was open was October 13, 2024 and our store at 821 W. 115th Street closed its doors on Sunday, November 13, 2024.

“ALDI will continue to proudly serve the Chicago metropolitan area in our more than 150 stores, including more than 30 in the city of Chicago, as well as our distribution center and headquarters in Batavia, Illinois. ALDI employs nearly 6,000 people in the region while offering very competitive salaries and benefits. The recent closures are unique situations and are not indicative of broader trends. In fact, we recently announced plans to hire more than 13,000 associates. on our most ambitious growth plans to date, aiming to open 800 new stores by the end of 2028.

“We strive to create an environment in which our employees can thrive. We are proud to say that all affected employees have been offered a transfer to a store of their choice and no jobs will be lost. Customers can easily shop at one of our many nearby stores, via curbside pickup, or have your groceries delivered to their door via Instacart and DoorDash.

• 12215 Western Ave., Blue Island, IL 60406

• 13085 S. Ashland Ave., Calumet Park, IL 60827

• 8500 S. Holland Rd., Chicago, IL 60620

“We thank the community for their years of loyalty and look forward to seeing them in nearby stores soon.”