D.C. Councilmembers Kwame Brown (Chair), Tommy Wells (Ward 6) and Harry Thomas, Jr. (Ward 5) help cut the ribbon this morning. Photo courtesy Charles Allen.

This morning, District officials were on hand as the ribbon was cut at the District’s first ALDI grocery store, located at 901 17th Street NE.

The store, which ALDI boasts will bring “fresh, affordable grocery options that currently are hard to find in the Ward 5 community,” broke ground last September, months after news of the store’s imminent arrival was greeted with mixed reviews. The chain currently owns ten other stores in the metropolitan area, most of them located in Prince George’s County.

The ALDI, which is hosting a neighborhood preview day featuring free samples of the store’s branded offerings until 3 p.m. this afternoon, officially opens for business tomorrow.