Back Open In Immokalee

>> FOR NEARLY ONE YEAR, IMMOKALEE WAS LEFT WITHOUT A MAJOR GROCERY STORE WITH THE CLOSING OF THE ONLY WINN-DIXIE FOLLOWING MONTHS OF RENOVATIONS, RESIDENTS LINED UP IN CELEBRATION OF THE OPENING OF A NEW ALDI. WGCU’S EILEEN KELLEY SHARES THE COMMUNITY'S REACTIONS. >> AND THEY BEGAN LINING UP LONG BEFORE SUNUP AND THE OFFICIAL UNVEILING OF THE NOON AND ONLY FULL-FLEDGED GROCER IN TOWN. MANY WAITED AS MUCH AS 5 AND A HALF HOURS IN LINE FOR A CHANCE TO GET A FREE BAG OF ALL THESE GOODIES RESERVED FOR THE FIRST 200 CUSTOMERS OF THE DAY. >> I A >> BY 08:30AM, WHEN THE DOORS OFFICIALLY OPENED, THERE WERE SOME 600 PEOPLE WAITING. ONE OF THEM WAS AND FRIENDS. >> I'M OPEN FOR FREE STUFF I'M NOT EXCITED FOR THE ALL THE OPENING 2 TO HAVE A NEW START. >> THE EXCITEMENT CERTAINLY WAS POWERFUL AND NOT JUST FOR FREE STUFF OFF BASE TENDS TO HAVE A CULT LIKE FOLLOWING FOR NOT ONLY LOW PRICED OFF-BRAND GROCERIES, BUT MANY ARE DRAWN TO THE STORE FOR ITS LOW PRICED KNOCKOFFS OF HOUSE FOR GOODS THAT ROTATE OUT ON A WEEKLY BASIS. I LIKE THE U.S. ELECTION. >> AND ALL THESE AND I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A FAN OF THE STORE. SO TO HAVE BEEN CLOSE IS EXCITING. >> BUT THERE'S ANOTHER REASON FOR ALL THE FANFARE IN THE 11 MONTHS SINCE YIELD WINN-DIXIE CLOSED AFTER BEING BOUGHT OUT BY ALDI. IMMOKALEE HAS BEEN A FOOD DESERT. >> WELL, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY. WE'RE GLAD WE'VE GOT A NEW FOOD STORE COMING TO COUNTER THE WINN-DIXIE PULLED OUT LAST NOVEMBER. SO WE'RE ANXIOUS TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE OFFERING AND HOW THEY'LL HELP THE COMMUNITY. >> THE CLOSING LEFT PEOPLE WITH ONLY FIRE AWAY OPTIONS FROM MAJOR RETAILERS LIKE THE PUBLIX SUPERMARKET IN AVE MARIA, WHICH IS ABOUT A 20 MINUTE DRIVE AWAY. SO THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW STORE WAS A BLESSING TO PEOPLE LIKE THIS. A MAN WHO ONLY WANTED TO PROVIDE THE NAME ABRAHAM. >> IT'S VERY GOOD BECAUSE WE NEED IN A GROCERY STORE OWNER HERE. HAS ANYBODY GOT TO DRIVE AWAY FOR THE PUBLIC'S AND ALL THIS STUFF TO GET GROCERIES? EVERYBODY BEEN WAITING FOR THIS RIGHT HERE. >> INDEED, THAT IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN THE WORLD. EASTERN COLLIER COUNTY, WHERE A MAJORITY OF THE WINN-DIXIE SHOPPERS WALKED OR RODE THEIR BIKES TO THE STORM. FOR WGCU NEWS THIS IS EILEEN KELLEY.