Residents in Reek can be again in the polonaise, because the Aldi is no longer leaving the village. All signals are green to move the supermarket to the other side of the road, where the Aldi will settle permanently.
Reek made all the front pages three and a half years ago when the Aldi was opened. After six years of fighting, the village finally had its own supermarket and that resulted in legendary images. Residents were so happy that they loudly sang a body song on the street and walked through the supermarket in the polonaise. The images went viral and there were even creative people who made it a remix that appeared on YouTube.
The Aldi was allowed to stay for a five -year trial period, was the promise. Because in the meantime it had already been shown that other supermarkets in the municipality have no loss because of that period, there would be a definitive location across the street.
In the first quarter of 2024 there would be more clear about the future of the Aldi, but so far it remained still suspicious. The temporary permit, which was granted in November 2020, is going down this year. Council members started to worry and asked the municipal administration questions. Does Aldi still want to move? And, a member of Ben Maathuis fears: “If all procedures still have to be completed, it will be short day.”
“We are confident that we will come out with the municipality.”
But the Aldi reassures everyone. “We would really like a definitive location in Reek,” says spokesman Wijnand Simons. According to the municipality, Aldi had not yet delivered everything that was needed for the request for the relocation, but that has since happened. Now only the college still has to give the green light. Simons: “We are confident that we will come out with the municipality.”
The permit from the temporary store will end in November. The municipality expects that the permit procedure for the permanent store across the road will indeed not be completed. For a smooth transition between the existing and new store, Aldi will have to apply for renewing the permit from the current store. ”
The municipality expects that a final decision will be made on the permit application in the course of 2026. Only then can the construction of the new store begin.
The arrival of the Aldi yielded special images in 2021: