Although a partnership between Aldi and Kohl’s department store may be beneficial to the residents and the local economy of Arnold, Missouri, officials of Aldi are still awaiting for approval from Arnold’s City Council.

In a council meeting held last Thursday, members had to vote on the matter of allowing the grocery store chain to be built in Arnold. Outside of the city, Aldi already has three stores, located in Mehlville, Fenton and Crestwood.

According to documents that were submitted to City Hall, Kohl’s will be using about 8 acres of Arnold’s land. Of the eight acres to be used, 2 will be occupied by Aldi’s grocery store.

On May 10th, a committee meeting at Arnold’s City Hall, the zoning and planning committee voted 7-3 for Aldi building an establishment at Arnold. If the division of the lot between Kohl and Aldi is permitted, then Sawyer Engineering will be preparing to build an Aldi grocery store just across from Kohl’s. According to John Sawyer of Sawyer Engineering, it was Kohl’s that first approached Aldi about possibly partnering on a business venture, as the two companies have complimentary customers.

According to Jeff Campbell, commissioner of the zoning and planning committee, even though he voted for the plan to proceed, what concerns him is the possible increase in traffic in the area of Michigan Avenue.

According to Bryan Wucher, a member of Arnold’s committee who voted against the construction of Aldi, the grocery will already be the seventh grocery store in Arnold and this might lead to a 10%-15% loss of business sales for other grocery stores in Arnold.

Overall, if Arnold’s council ends up deciding not to allow the split up of the property on Michigan Avenue for Kohl’s and Aldi’s, then the grocery chain’s real estate developer will not proceed with construction.