A closed Winn-Dixie in the Grand Cypress Marketplace in St. Johns County is being converted into an Aldi discount grocery store, according to a sign permit issued April 16 by the county.
B&S Signs of Jacksonville is the contractor for the installation of a $6,750 Aldi sign at 100 Little Cypress Drive.
So far, it is the only Winn Dixie in St. Johns identified to take on the banner of the German grocer. Aldi bought Winn-Dixie parent Southeastern Grocers in 2024 and began converting some of the stores.
After conversion, the Grand Cypress Aldi will be the chain’s third in St. Johns County.
It appears to be the sixth Aldi proposed conversion of Southeastern Grocers stores in Northeast Florida.
The closed Grand Cypress Winn-Dixie, which opened in December 2022, is 43,613 square feet.
Aldi stores are typically no more than 18,000 square feet, indicating there could be an interior wall built to split the space for other tenants. The county has not issued a permit for that.
The site is at Race Track Road and U.S. 1 in the shopping center where Clean Eatz, Teriyaki Madness, Mainstream Boutique and St. Johns Nail Spa are open.
Little Caesars was permitted April 2 to build-out space where Kazu Sushi Express, which is closed
Lykes Bros. of Tampa is the property owner.
More conversions
In Jacksonville, the first converted Aldi opened March 20 at 2261 Edgewood Ave. W. in Northwest Jacksonville in a former Harveys Supermarket.
Aldi has taken steps to convert at least four more Winn-Dixies in Northeast Florida, in Brierwood, Fort Caroline and Girvin in Duval County and in Fleming Island in Clay County.
German-based grocer Aldi U.S. bought Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers Inc., with about 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi, in March 2024. It said it planned to convert some of them it its banner.
A group led by former Southeastern Grocers CEO and President Anthony Hucker announced in February that it bought 170 of those stores as well as the Winn-Dixie liquor store business.
Aldi said it intends to complete its previously stated conversion plans with a total of about 220 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores. That process is expected to conclude in 2027.
As of March 20, Aldi had at least 14 stores in Northeast Florida, comprising nine in Jacksonville and five in Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties.