LaBelle's only Winn-Dixie to close February; Aldi to replace it

LABELLE, Fla. - Residents of LaBelle are facing a significant change as the town's only Winn-Dixie is set to close, making way for an Aldi.

The closure has left many community members concerned about the impact on their shopping convenience.

Signs of a closing sale posted outside the LaBelle Winn-Dixie have sparked strong reactions.

"I was really surprised, because I know that Winn-Dixie is really close and super convenient," said Mario Villa, a LaBelle resident.

With the closure, residents see limited options for their grocery needs.

"I feel like everybody's gonna go to Walmart, and already Walmart is busy enough," Villa said.

The nearby Walmart is already bustling with activity.

"I get a lot of customers coming up to me, asking me for help a lot. So with more people coming, I feel like it's just gonna be worse," said Jonathan Morales, a Walmart employee.

Winn-Dixie confirmed that the LaBelle location will close on February 8. There is no public timeline for when Aldi will open.

"I guess we'll just find out when it comes," Morales said.

Until then, shoppers in LaBelle are preparing for busier stores and fewer options.

WINK News reached out to Aldi for more information about the opening timeline and its implications for Winn-Dixie employees and the community, but has not yet received a response.