Aldi to open new stores in California's San Diego County and Arizona's Maricopa County on Thursday

Aldi will open two new stores on the West Coast on Thursday, part of an ongoing, aggressive expansion plan that has included the addition of more than 1,000 new markets from the German discounter over the past decade.

The first location will be in El Cajon, California, at 123 Fletcher Parkway. Located in San Diego County, the new store edges the discount grocer to almost 100 stores in California, according to the grocer’s website.

“We’re excited to open our first Aldi store in El Cajon and introduce local customers to a new, more affordable way of shopping,” said Tom Cindel, Moreno Valley regional VP for Aldi, in a statement.

The second location to open on Thursday will be in Glendale, Arizona. Located in Maricopa County, the new store will be located at 16880 N. 59th Avenue.

With a business model that is “intentionally different,” the Batavia, Illinois-based chain last week dropped its limited- time Mother’s Day gifts that give mom the gift of “me-time” with slippers, bath bombs and more.

With warmer weather just around the corner, Aldi recently introduced its new summer alcohol beverage line-up, which includes 11 new products under $14, now available nationwide.

Aldi’s discount rival Lidl is placing its latest brick-and-mortar expansion in the East Coast.

The Arlington, Virginia-based hard discounter will open a new store in Chantilly, Virginia, on May 3.

The approximately 29,000-square-foot store at 14445 Chantilly Crossing Lane is Lidl’s 33rd location in Virginia.

Lidl, which is owned by the Schwarz Group, said it invested millions in this store, which will create more than 40 new jobs, with starting pay of $18 an hour and comprehensive benefits for all employees, including health care.