Aldi Temporary Closures and Burglaries

[Alpha8472]

Aldi may have to resort to a temporary closure due to staff shortages near Saranac Lake, New York. Three other Aldi stores have had to close due to repeated burglaries.

Saranac Lake is a popular summer vacation destination with a population of over 5,000. Employees are moving away or going to school in the Fall. The store will have to temporarily close. Two Chicago Aldi stores and one in Memphis closed earlier this year due to repeated burglaries, property damage, and poor sales performance.

https://www.eatthis.com/news-aldi-store ... hut-downs/

[BillyGr]

That Saranac Lake one seems pretty odd, given that there aren't a lot of things in that area and as it says some of the businesses are seasonal (meaning that others would be closing after the summer as normal, leaving their employees needing a job, so you'd think Aldi could hire from those).

The population isn't huge in the town itself, but this store (with one Grand Union now, again, in town as well) and one Hannaford and one Price Chopper in Lake Placid serve a fairly wide area, as most of the other small towns within a 20 to 30-mile radius have no stores at all (particular not grocery, they may have something here & there otherwise), so they don't necessarily have to hire just from the population of Saranac Lake itself.

[storewanderer]

Odd Aldi is having these issues. They have few employees to begin with, somewhat limited hours, and pay a higher wage. Or at least they used to. Has something changed as they expanded as far as how they hire/pay/staff?

Aldi seems like the right format for a tough neighborhood given the product mix, limited hours as a rule, and pricing. It is interesting they are walking from some locations that seem perfect for their format.

[buckguy]

The low level of staffing probably makes these stores targets, like Dollar General although I would imagine that Aldi isn't as lax or cavalier about security. The Auburn-Gresham store is on the South Side, not the West Side and is near a ton of big box retail as well as Jewel and Food4Less. That area has more retail now than it did the 15-20 years ago. Aldi may be at a disadvantage with security, although it may be that the store is just a poor performer given the competition and there was a recent crime that could be used to justify closing instead of too much competition. West Garfield Park has rapidly depopulated and is one of the most violent parts of the Chicago---I was there as part of a site visit a number of years ago. The neighborhood to the East is in similar shape. Some of the other surrounding neighborhoods are doing better and have more access to retail.

Saranac Lake is an odd one. Someone must have vacationed up there and noticed all the tiny Grand Unions and figured the Aldi model could work in the Adirondacks because that area that has a winter as well as summer season. I'll bet that the problem is that most businesses around there are locally owned or part of regional chains which know better how to deal with the ups and downs of labor availability. Besides the seasonal workers who leave for work/school, resort areas often have many locals with more than one job. The job that pays best in a given time of year will get their attention and limit their availability---local businesses probably know how to negotiate all that and develop arrangements with individuals to maintain coverage.

[storewanderer]

I think you're right. The lack of staffing and the way Aldi is set up would make them a robbery target.

They could probably try some things physically on the stores to deter robberies. Open the register furthest from the door. Install some barricades or metal push to enter/exit gates to get in and out of the store (multiple ones). Stop having the checkout set up where the cash is basically in a cash box (not a secured cash drawer) and the customer can very easily see its contents when standing there or a customer "watching" can easily see the cash box contents.

Cashless stores could go a long ways to stop robberies. Funny how the most dangerous cities prohibit cashless stores. Or only accept cash via a vending machine that then sells a gift card to redeem in the store so the cash is then secured/unit only accessed by the armed transport who picks up cash.

Aldi's items are such low value inventory that theft of inventory should not be a huge issue unless it is a low volume store (have seen some Dollar Tree units close over the years due to this issue).

[BillyGr]

Saranac Lake is an odd one. Someone must have vacationed up there and noticed all the tiny Grand Unions and figured the Aldi model could work in the Adirondacks because that area that has a winter as well as summer season. I'll bet that the problem is that most businesses around there are locally owned or part of regional chains which know better how to deal with the ups and downs of labor availability. Besides the seasonal workers who leave for work/school, resort areas often have many locals with more than one job. The job that pays best in a given time of year will get their attention and limit their availability---local businesses probably know how to negotiate all that and develop arrangements with individuals to maintain coverage.

Though one might think that a store like this would get the employees as they would have a year-round position, rather than having to try to put together multiple part-time ones for various seasons?

They could probably try some things physically on the stores to deter robberies. Open the register furthest from the door. Install some barricades or metal push to enter/exit gates to get in and out of the store (multiple ones). Stop having the checkout set up where the cash is basically in a cash box (not a secured cash drawer) and the customer can very easily see its contents when standing there or a customer "watching" can easily see the cash box contents.

Cashless stores could go a long ways to stop robberies. Funny how the most dangerous cities prohibit cashless stores. Or only accept cash via a vending machine that then sells a gift card to redeem in the store so the cash is then secured/unit only accessed by the armed transport who picks up cash.

Aldi's items are such low value inventory that theft of inventory should not be a huge issue unless it is a low volume store (have seen some Dollar Tree units close over the years due to this issue).

Or simply set up the cash acceptance part like a self-checkout, where the customer puts the money in, and the machine gives the change. Seems easier than selling cards or something like that.

Also, not sure that the "cash box" isn't secured - it usually doesn't open until the transaction is completed, so isn't it trigger by the register just like any store? Maybe a bit more visible when open, but not necessarily less secure than any other drawer would be.

[HCal]

Funny how the most dangerous cities prohibit cashless stores.

Which of the most dangerous cities has prohibited cashless stores?

The most dangerous cities in the US are generally in the deep south and the rust belt.

[storewanderer]

Funny how the most dangerous cities prohibit cashless stores.

Which of the most dangerous cities has prohibited cashless stores?

The most dangerous cities in the US are generally in the deep south and the rust belt.

Philadelphia, San Francisco, New York City, all prohibit cashless stores. I think there are some other places too.

Republican lawmakers in certain states including ID, ND, and MS have also proposed statewide regulations that prohibit cashless stores. Not sure what if any of that actually passed.

I added that last detail in there to show real fast that for once this sort of regulation is not a partisan issue.

[veteran+]

"In 2022, The most dangerous cities in the US are Atlanta, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Springfield, Memphis, Chattanooga, Little Rock and Tacoma. The FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program classifies murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault as violent crimes."

The list varies slightly, depending on who is compiling and reporting.

[Alpha8472]

I am surprised that Salt Lake City is on the list.