Aldi moving into former Farm Fresh in Norfolk’s Ghent area

It’s official. Aldi is moving into Norfolk’s Ghent area.

The grocery retailer will open in the former Farm Fresh store at 730 W. 21st St. A sign hanging outside of the building states that an Aldi store is on the way. The location could be the first store that Aldi opens in the city. The retailer has also submitted plans for stores on Little Creek Road and North Military Highway.

Aldi declined to provide store plans and an opening date for the Ghent store.

The vacant space at The Center Shops is more than 35,100 square feet. In Aldi’s conditional-use permit application, submitted to Norfolk’s planning commission in December, the company proposed using 23,087 square feet of it, leaving room for another tenant.

After Farm Fresh moved out, Harris Teeter, which previously held the space, removed and auctioned off the store’s interior fixtures last September. The rental agreement with Harris Teeter, which is owned by Kroger, was terminated by the center’s owners, The Rosemary Corporation, after Harris Teeter indicated it wouldn’t be able to open for another year. The lease had only two years left.

Aldi Petersburg Division Vice President Chris Daniels told The Virginian-Pilot in May that the company was “excited to confirm opening Aldi stores in Norfolk is the next phase of our Hampton Roads expansion plans.”

He said the company would be opening stores in the city at the end of 2019 and 2020.

According to the permit application, the new store would be open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.