A new grocery store is about to open in Neptune Beach, bringing a fresh tenant to a long-standing neighborhood shopping center. Discount grocer Aldi is preparing to open a new location on March 12 inside Penman Plaza, replacing a recently closed Winn-Dixie store that previously anchored the plaza.
The upcoming store will introduce ALDI’s smaller-format grocery model to the Atlantic Boulevard corridor just east of Jacksonville. According to grand opening announcements, the store will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8:45 a.m. on March 12, shortly before doors officially open to customers.
Grand Opening Promotions Planned
ALDI plans to celebrate the opening with several promotions typical of its new store launches. The first 200 customers in line will receive a chance to draw a Golden Ticket worth up to $100 in ALDI gift cards. Those early shoppers will also receive a bag of ALDI-branded groceries.
Customers arriving on opening day may also receive a free reusable ALDI shopping tote while supplies last. These promotions are designed to welcome shoppers and introduce the chain’s selection of private-label grocery products.
A Plaza with Deep Local History
While the grocery store inside Penman Plaza is changing, the location itself has been part of the Neptune Beach landscape for decades.
Historic aerial imagery shows the site looked very different in the early years of suburban development along Atlantic Boulevard. The earliest available image from 1960 shows the area as a largely wooded parcel with no buildings present.
By 1963, construction activity can be seen underway at the site, suggesting the shopping center was being built during the early wave of commercial growth in the Jacksonville Beaches area.
A 1970 aerial image shows the plaza fully constructed, though the footprint appears smaller than the modern shopping center seen today. Over time, the property expanded and evolved to accommodate new tenants and retail formats.
ALDI Continues Expanding in Northeast Florida
The new Neptune Beach location reflects the continued expansion of ALDI across Florida. The grocery chain, originally founded in Germany, now operates thousands of stores worldwide and has steadily increased its presence across the United States.
Known for its limited-assortment store layout and emphasis on private-label products, ALDI has built a reputation for offering groceries at lower prices than many traditional supermarkets. The company has been opening new stores and converting former grocery locations across the Southeast in recent years.
When doors open on March 12, Neptune Beach residents will gain another grocery option in a plaza that has served the community for more than half a century.
Last Updated on March 4, 2026 by F.E.M