By David Dorsey, Fort Myers News-Press

Aldi, the fast-growing, Germany-based chain of discount grocery stores, has plans to open later this year at Coralwood Center in Cape Coral.

Aldi will take over about 22,000 square feet of space that had been a Kmart and was going to be a Fresh Market, which began remodeling the space in 2017, only to back out as that company decided against expanding.

That left Coralwood with the empty space until Aldi stepped forward to fill the void at 2301 Del Prado Boulevard S., between HomeGoods and Bealls, just north of where Veterans Parkway leads to the Midpoint Bridge.

“We are excited to confirm we plan to open our new Cape Coral store this winter,” Chris Hewitt, the Aldi Royal Palm Beach Division vice president, said in an emailed statement. He was not available for an interview.

Hewitt said the new store would have five aisles of sales floor space. About 2,500 square feet of the current building shell will be turned into a separate business location, with LandQwest doing the leasing.

“We will reach out closer to the grand opening with more specific details,” Hewitt said of the Aldi.

This will mark Aldi’s sixth confirmed location in Lee County.

Aldi’s first Cape Coral store opened at 1843 NE Pine Island Road in August 2017, just north of the Pondella Road intersection.

Aldi broke ground on its second Cape Coral location, 1481/1501 SW Pine Island Road, about five miles west of the first Aldi, earlier this year on 6.6 acres of land purchased for $1.8 million. Some of that land will be put back on the market by Aldi.

Most Aldi stores provide 15-20 jobs. The chain has its own brands and deploys a number of cost-cutting measures designed to pass along the savings to customers. This includes renting grocery carts for 25 cents and encouraging customers to bring their own bags.