Aldi will soon open its first Fernandina Beach store.
The Winn-Dixie supermarket at 947 Amelia Plaza is scheduled to convert into a store for the Germany-based discount grocer in July, according to Southeastern Grocers LLC.
The closest Nassau County Aldi is in Yulee at 463689 Florida 200, about 7.5 miles west.
Fernandina Beach is reviewing a permit application to remodel the store.
Jacksonville-based Williams & Rowe Co. is the contractor. APD Engineering & Architecture of Victor, New York, is the engineer.
Aldi bought Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers Inc., which operated about 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi as of March 7, 2024.
Aldi then started converting some stores to its banner. Not all Winn-Dixie and Harveys stores will be converted to Aldi. A new company, Southeastern Grocers LLC, is buying back 170 stores from Aldi.
In a statement, a SEG spokesperson said: “We can confirm the Winn-Dixie store located at 947 Amelia Plaza in Fernandina Beach will convert to a new Aldi store. All associates working at the Fernandina Beach Winn-Dixie store received official advance notice that their store is projected to close in late July to convert to an Aldi location.
“To ensure a smooth transition for our associates, SEG will continue working diligently with Aldi to provide support and opportunities to each associate at converting stores, including having the first opportunity to apply for roles at newly converted Aldi stores or remain with Winn-Dixie and transfer to another store.”
In Jacksonville, the first converted Aldi opened March 20 at 2261 Edgewood Ave. W. in a former Harveys Supermarket in Northwest Jacksonville.
Aldi has taken steps to convert at least five more Winn-Dixies in Northeast Florida — in the Fort Caroline, Girvin and Brierwood neighborhoods of Duval County; in Fleming Island in Clay County; and in Grand Cypress Marketplace in St. Johns County.
The Aldi conversion isn’t the only grocery making changes in Fernandina Beach. The Publix in the Island Walk Shopping Center at 1421 Sadler Road near South 14th Street closed in April and will be demolished and rebuilt.