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Aldi and Lidl are both ramping up expansion efforts in Manhattan, where a third rival, Trader Joe’s, has found wild success.
Aldi confirmed plans to open its first store in midtown Manhattan. Slated to open in 2026, the 25,000-square-foot outpost — smaller than most Aldi’s — will be located within a luxury residential building on 42nd street between 8th and 9th avenue, on the edge of Times Square.
“Opening our first store in the heart of Manhattan will be a significant milestone for Aldi as we continue to expand access to affordable, quality groceries in the most in-demand locations across the country,” said Chris Daniels, regional VP at Aldi. “This location will allow us to provide New Yorkers with a simpler, quicker, and more enjoyable shopping experience with great products at the lowest prices, every day.”
The 42nd St. store will be Aldi’s second location in Manhattan, with the first opening in East Harlem in 2012.
Lidl, Aldi’s biggest competitor in Europe, just opened its second Manhattan store on the Lower East Side following its debut in Harlem in 2022.
Lidl said in a press release, “We’re the Super-EST Market in town for a reason, delivering unique options and unbeatable savings to our communities. At Lidl US, shoppers experience a curated collection of private label picks, global imports, and everyday name brands. From imported cheeses to fresh meats and seafood, you’ll get to experience the quality we’re famous for in Europe — without using your passport.”
Two other Lidl stores are planned in Manhattan, in the Chelsea and Kips Bay neighborhoods.
Trader Joe’s has expanded to 10 stores in Manhattan since opening its first to big fanfare in the East Village in 2008. The quirky, limited-assortment grocer has thrived in a city starved for affordable grocery options, including for organics, with the broad selection of quality ready-to-eat and frozen meals also ideal for time-strapped residents. The stores are also seen as a "tourist hot spot."
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The downside to the chain’s popularity are crowds. As this TikTok video attests, Manhattan residents have come to expect long checkout lines that can extend outside the front door.
In a ranking of the “Top Ten Most Intriguing Trader Joe's Stores,” Trader Joe’s noted that the New York City borough contains “hands down the busiest Trader Joe’s in the world” at 72nd and Broadway.
“Covering two stories (three, if you count the entrance) and serviced by no less than two elevators and four escalators, 72nd & Broadway has about thrice as many check stands and thrice as many Crew Members as a typical TJ’s,” Trader Joe’s said. “This may sound daunting, but to our Manhattan customers and Crew, it’s just another neighborhood store.”