Aldi planning to move into site of former Lunds & Byerlys in downtown St. Paul

When Lunds & Byerlys closed its downtown St. Paul location last year, it brought the number of grocery stores in the city’s core to zero.

That could change later this year if plans go through for an Aldi to rise in the empty commercial space at the corner of Robert and East 10th streets.

According to a remodel permit application filed with the city last month, the German-owned budget grocer is poised to begin work on the property in mid-March and wrap up by late June.

Citing issues with safety and profitability, Lunds & Byerlys closed shop in March of last year, ending an 11-year run in downtown St. Paul. The store had previously slashed its operating hours by more than one-third.

RELATED: Lunds & Byerlys will close downtown St. Paul location later this month | Downtown St. Paul Lunds & Byerlys changing hours, citing ‘viability’ and ‘safety’

In a statement, St. Paul Mayor Kaohly Her praised the development as a positive step for downtown.

“Bringing a grocery store back downtown was one of my top priorities and a huge need we heard from residents,” Her said. “I want to thank Aldi for choosing to invest in our city and contributing to our vision of revitalization.”

Once complete, the 10th Street location would be Aldi’s fifth store in St. Paul.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reached out to the grocer for comment and is awaiting a response.
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