If you haven’t heard … Franklin Township is getting an ALDI and a Tractor Supply.
“At this time, Tractor Supply can confirm its plans to open a store in Ellwood City,” said Tricia Glenn an account executive for FINN Partners on behalf of Tractor Supply. “While currently in the permitting phase, if all moves on schedule, construction could start as early as the end of 2024. While subject to change based on the construction timeline, if construction starts this year, the store could open in Summer 2025.”
ALDI has refused to comment, but Lloyd Myers of the Franklin Township Planning Commission, said that ALDI has in fact broke ground on the land across the highway from North Star Plaza. He said that it has been speculated that the store could possibly open in about five months but said he could not confirm.
“I think both businesses are going to be good for the community,” Myers said. “Our community has to move forward in opening businesses that help with tax revenue and provides options.”
Meyers said he had talked to many township residents and the feedback has been mostly positive stating that more than 90 percent are happy that ALDI will be a new option for groceries. He said there have been a few people that have been opposed to the ALDI because of concerns regarding traffic and also that ALDI is not locally-owned.
“PennDot did traffic studies and found no issues,” Myers said.
According to Meyers the planning commission simply monitors the process to make sure that new businesses follow the rules. They don’t get to pick and choose the businesses that decide to develop in the area.
“We have no way of stopping them,” he said.
And overall for the benefit of the township, he feels that new development in the township is a good thing, not just with ALDI and Tractor Supply.
“We’ve been knocking down old structures and putting up new,” he said. “We are improving the footprint.”
Although rumors have been spreading for more than a year regarding ALDI and motions were approved during numerous supervisors meetings, ALDI, according to Myers didn’t officially purchase the land until they got their final approvals.
“Once they got their wastewater and sewage permits sorted out, they finalized the deal with the property owners,” he said.
Tractor Supply will build on the land between the Dollar General and The Church of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Myers said they purchased five acres of land.
That land is not between DG and the old JW church, its across from advance auto. LOOK AT THE PICS.