Discount supermarket Aldi, located within Gütersloh's district, set for demolition; replacement with contemporary, economical shopping destination.
Bustling Ölbachtal Shopping Center in Verl Gets a Refresh
Hopping over to the Ölbachtal shopping center for a weekend grocery haul or a quick drink? It's likely you've visited this bustling hub in Verl, home to Edeka, Aldi, beverage market, SB market, drugstore, bargain market, pet supplies, and more.
Since 2019, plans for redeveloping and modernizing the heart of the city's neighborhood shopping center have been brewing. But these plans have encountered a few hurdles.
Now, retailer Jens Niederschulte and architect Eckhart Send have finally unveiled plans set to break ground soon. While the initial plans were grand, this newer plan is a scaled-down version, but it's a step forward as construction is slated to start as early as August.
Keeping Up with the Times
The municipal building yard has vacated its premises, and the beverage market run by Niederschulte has moved to a new location on the opposite side of Westfälische Straße since April.
The proposals presented to the urban development and construction committee encompass Edeka, Aldi, their parking lots, and the old beverage market, which will be demolished. "We've zeroed in on the property of Jens Niederschulte and what's feasible there," said architect Eckhart Send.
Originally, there were plans for an expansion or new construction of the Edeka market, but factors such as new fire safety regulations and expiration of building rights made this an impossibility. Additionally, Niederschulte stated that a new construction would result in a minimum closure time of nine months for Edeka, leading to financial hardship and potential employee loss.
Modernizing the Mainstays
The building (1,950 square meters including shops) will undergo a complete makeover, both internally and externally. Send explains, "The market will be completely overhauled, made attractive, and restructured. The facade will be redesigned, but the building will retain its legal status."
The aisles (currently 1.60 to 1.80 meters) will be expanded to 2.60 meters. Niederschulte reported, "This will provide ample space. There will also be a brand-new customer experience with a clear structure." The range of products will remain similar, but "we have to keep up with the trends," emphasizes the retailer.
Aldi will bid farewell to its current structure and welcome a modern market, replacing the 850 square meters with a sales area of 1,300 square meters. Send highlights, "The old Aldi would definitely be too small for the future." Construction of an Aldi is more straightforward compared to an Edeka market, which is why this alternative was chosen.
A New Parking Experience
A brick facade with concrete prefabricated parts and aluminum panels is in the works for both Edeka and Aldi. Deliveries will take place from the Westfälische Straße for both stores, with architectural enclosures for sound protection reasons.
The parking lot will undergo a complete transformation. Access from Westfalenweg will cease, with the primary access now routes from Österwieher Straße, where there was only an exit before. The area near the railway line where the old drinks market stands will be added to the expanded parking lot. The new parking spaces will be 2.80 meters wide, making them larger than before, and the driving lanes will be 7.50 meters wide, promoting smooth navigation. There will be a total of 132 parking spaces, slightly fewer than the current 150, but Send notes, " That's not a problem, as the drinks market is no longer included in the parking space calculation."
Making Waves in Verl
"The concept will be implemented in the short term," the architect said, noting that construction is slated to begin as early as August, with the goal of completion by the Christmas shopping season this year.
Most politicians across the factions find this timeline ambitious but generally positive. First Deputy Mayor Thorsten Herbst reiterates, "We agreed on this ambitious timeline, provided the complete building permit is submitted next week."
Back to Niederschulte, who sums up the upcoming transformation with, "We're making the Edeka and the Aldi nice, and we'll get a new tidy situation on the parking lots." Or, as Thorsten Herbst puts it, "What takes time, will be good in the end."
- The redevelopment plans for the Ölbachtal shopping center in Verl, originally intended to include an expansion of Edeka and new construction, have been adjusted due to new fire safety regulations and expired building rights, with a focus on revamping the existing Edeka, Aldi, and their parking lots.
- During the transformation, both Edeka and Aldi will undergo a complete makeover, featuring larger aisles, redesigned facades, and updated interiors that aim to keep up with modern trends in lifestyle, home-and-garden, shopping, and more, providing a brand-new customer experience.
