Winn-Dixie Out, Aldi In: New Grocery Store Coming to Lehigh Acres, Florida ⋆ SprawlTag.com

The Winn-Dixie at 61 Bell Blvd N in Lehigh Acres officially closed on January 12, 2025, marking the end of its retail presence at the intersection of Bell Boulevard and Milwaukee Boulevard. The closure is part of a broader set of changes across Florida as new tenants move into former Winn-Dixie buildings.

According to Aldi’s official store locator, the site is listed as “Coming Soon”, confirming that the discount grocery chain will open a location here. However, as of July 2025, no official opening date has been announced.

Winn-Dixie’s History on Bell Blvd

Aerial imagery shows that the property was undeveloped as recently as 1994. The current building likely dates back to the late 1990s or early 2000s, aligning with Winn-Dixie’s regional expansion during that time. The building remains standing today and appears to be undergoing interior renovations rather than demolition.

The transition from Winn-Dixie to Aldi follows a pattern already seen in other parts of Florida, where Aldi is remodeling and reusing former grocery store buildings rather than constructing new ones.

The site at Bell Boulevard and Milwaukee Boulevard in 1994, shown here undeveloped. The red arrow points to where the former Winn-Dixie—and soon, the new Aldi—would later be built. This stretch of Lehigh Acres saw major commercial growth beginning in the late 1990s.

Is the Building Being Split?

There is no official statement from Aldi, 5 Below, or any commercial real estate source confirming that the space is being divided between two tenants. However, multiple public Facebook posts from Lehigh Acres residents have claimed that the building is being split, with 5 Below allegedly taking the remaining space.

While this is consistent with other Aldi conversions in Florida—where a former full-size supermarket is shared between Aldi and another retailer—no permitting documents or leasing announcements have verified this claim for 61 Bell Blvd N.

Until official plans are released, the presence of a second tenant at the site remains unconfirmed.

What Happens Next

Aldi’s development team continues to convert former Winn-Dixie locations across the Southeast, often completing remodels within six to eight months of store closure. If that timeline holds, an opening later this summer would be typical—but again, no date has been confirmed for this location.

For now, the Bell Blvd site remains listed as “Coming Soon” on Aldi’s website, and the parking lot appears active with construction work visible in recent satellite imagery.