By Lauren Young

Staff writer

After five-and-a-half weeks of construction and renovating, the Aldi in East Syracuse has debuted its upgraded store at the grand re-opening on Wednesday, Oct. 24.

Chris Young, district manager of the Aldi in East Syracuse located at 6633 Manlius Center Road, said there is a “larger emphasis placed on freshness,” including larger fresh produce, beef and bread sections. The new renovations also feature wider aisles to “create a better shopping experience,” higher ceilings, LED lighting, more recyclable materials and eco-friendly refrigeration.

“The layout is fairly different from your previous Aldi,” he said.

“It’s a more modern, convenient shopping layout, in a sense that the aisles are bigger,” said Chrissy Hudak, Aldi district manager who works on store remodels and grand openings. Aisles now go down the middle and sides of the store, whereas before customers had to walk around the store, she said.

“It’s more user-friendly,” said Hudak.

Aldi stores across the country — over 1,800 of them — are receiving similar renovations to increase its fresh food selection by 40 percent. With 24 divisions across the nation and growing, the Tully Division in particular, which incorporates Western and Central Upstate New York, includes 78 stores.

“For customers that have always been with us, it’s just giving them more of what they want, and attracts new customers with the different appeals we have now for freshness,” Hudak said. “It’s awesome, the customers love it.”

For the last couple of years, Hudak said New York State has completed about 15 Aldi remodels each year, and the next Aldi grand re-opening in New York State will be in Illion, located in Herkimer County, opening Nov. 1. Next year, the Aldi’s in Camillus will undergo similar renovations.