Following the closure of all 66 sites that had operated as Bottom Dollar grocery stores up until early this year, Aldi announced Friday their intention to reopen locations in Woodbury, Glassboro, Bellmawr and more under their discount grocer banner.

Additional locations in Turnersville, Marlton and Clementon will be evaluated for sale or sublease, Aldi said in a press release.

The $15 million transaction with Delhaize Group includes the land, buildings and leasehold improvements.

"There really isn't a timetable in place," for reopening the stores, explained Julie Ketay, senior vice president with public relations firm Weber Shandwick. The expectation, however, is for "getting the stores open as soon as possible."

In late 2013, Aldi announced plans to open 650 new stores by the end of 2018. In Delhaize Group's announcement late last year regarding the closures, the company said it was getting out of the discount grocery business.

"The City of Woodbury is thrilled that Aldi decided to utilize the former Bottom Dollar store on Broad Street in our downtown," city Mayor Bill Volk said. "We welcome them and their customers to our city. Great things are happening here and when corporations like Aldi see Woodbury as a good investment we applaud them and will continue to do what we can to help them be successful."

According to information supplied by Aldi, the store uses volume purchasing, in-house brands, regular discounts and streamlined business practices to keep prices low.

Bottom Dollar previously operated stores in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Additional South Jersey locations that are scheduled to reopen include Cherry Hill and Edgewater Park.

Ketay said the determination between reopening the buildings or continuing to evaluate them was on a "case-by-case basis," but proximity to other stores or how heavily the area is traveled were some of the considerations.

Ketay said she wasn't aware of what could become of the Aldi location along Route 45 in West Deptford, which is a little more than a mile away from the future Woodbury location.

"A lot depends on location density," Ketay said, adding that there have been situations where more than one store is located within a mile of the other.

Following the January closure of the Woodbury site, which opened in July 2013, thousands supported an online push to turn the property into a Trader Joe's grocery store. A comparison of prices of staple items taken during a survey at local grocery stores showed Aldi having the lowest.

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Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@southjerseymedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.