For many, the name simply evokes a motorway exit, but in recent years, the Beauregard district has changed enormously. The renovation of the old hospital kicked off. The demolition of old abandoned buildings under the A31 bridge then the opening of a Lidl followed. Over the past decade, Beauregard has also seen the arrival of housing and, more recently, a Burger King and an Ange bakery. Today, the commercial offer is strengthening and improving the local offer. For residents and future residents of the surrounding area (those who will live in the Terville part of rue de Verdun in particular), it is an additional convenience.
Aldi chooses visibility
This Wednesday, an Aldi store opened its doors to the public. It is accessed from Chemin du Leidt, just under the motorway bridge. The latest generation store is organized over a little less than 1,000 m2 and dusts off the image that we can still have of discount food. Wide aisles, maximum brightness, well-aligned products, 10% of national brands on the shelves, the rest being distributor brands at attractive prices… “We are the inventors of discount; we remain a discounter,” claims Éric Vandelaer.
The regional director of Aldi Ennery explains that the company is in the process of commercial reconquest, “our 2030 objective is 1,800 stores in France”. Thionville was therefore logically on the roadmap, “but we wanted a premium location. This ticked the right boxes: 100,000 cars use the A31 every day; 40,000, rue de Verdun. In terms of visibility, you can’t do better. We did the same thing recently in Metzervisse, in Rettel last year.” For 2024, six new locations are well underway; In July, Aldi will cut the inaugural ribbon in Aumetz.
The opening of the Thionville store was accompanied by the recruitment of nine people. “We only sign permanent contracts. Our goal is to retain employees,” assures Éric Vandelaer, who is already thinking about the next move. Because in Thionville, “there is still room for another store”. It is said.
Two places to sit down at the table
The arrival of Aldi is only the beginning of the reconversion of the land located below the A31. Next to the supermarket parking lot, two construction sites are still in full swing: a Hippopotamus (steak house) and a Volfoni restaurant (trattoria) are due to open this fall. Unprecedented franchises in the area which have the advantage of being open seven days a week. Set back from the road, the old building with its brown façade still bears witness to the area’s past. “Its destination has not yet been decided. Either it will be demolished or razed,” says Benjamin Lafond, for the Habiter group, which bought the property from Enedis. Likewise, the developer has not yet determined at this stage whether he will convert this last section into housing or commerce.
