Construction of Aldi in Harrison delayed

Plans to open an Aldi grocery store this year in Harrison are stalled.

The discount market proposed for Freeport Road near Walmart will not open in 2022, store officials said Monday.

“To ensure our new Natrona Heights store provides customers with the best shopping experience possible, we’ve shifted our opening date to 2023,” said J.R. Perry, Aldi Saxonburg Division vice president.

Perry said more details would be released at a later date, including an anticipated date for the start of construction.

The Harrison zoning hearing board earlier this year held a public hearing to seek input on the grocer’s proposal for the property, which for many years housed Harbison Nursery at 4024 Freeport Road.

Aldi needed a variance to build in an area zoned S-1, or special. APD Engineering & Architecture, on behalf of Aldi, also sought a variance to allow construction within a required 30-yard setback from Freeport Road.

Township Manager John Pallone could not be reached for comment.

Founded in 1961 in Germany, Aldi is headquartered in Batavia, Ill., and has more than 2,000 stores across 36 states. The store employs more than 25,000 people and serves 40 million customers a month across the country, according to the company’s website.

Locally, there are stores in Lower Burrell, Tarentum, Penn Hills, Shaler and Kittanning. However, construction is currently underway to move the Lower Burrell store to the former Kmart in Riverview Plaza, just blocks away in New Kensington.

A 21,000-square-foot site is set to be built in the vacant lot along Tarentum Bridge Road.