Former Christmas Tree Shops store in Falmouth will have new tenant, owner says

Denise Coffey, Cape Cod Times
·2 min read

An Aldi grocery store will be coming to Falmouth Plaza to the one-time home of Christmas Tree Shops.

Greg Bilezikian, who owns the plaza at 39 Davis Straits, announced on Wednesday that he had signed a 10-year lease with Aldi. The Germany-based grocery chain hopes to open the store by the summer.

Aldi is one of the fastest growing grocers in the country, according to The Wall Street Journal, adding about 100 stores per year in the last decade. With about 1,600 products on its shelves, and 90% of the stock in private labels, the chain offers prices that are lower than the national averages.

A former Christmas Tree Shops store at Falmouth Plaza, located at 39 Davis Straits in Falmouth, has been leased for 10 years by Aldi, a Germany-based grocery chain, according to plaza owner Greg Bilezikian. The store was photographed on Sunday.
A former Christmas Tree Shops store at Falmouth Plaza, located at 39 Davis Straits in Falmouth, has been leased for 10 years by Aldi, a Germany-based grocery chain, according to plaza owner Greg Bilezikian. The store was photographed on Sunday.

The state Department of Transportation requires changes related to access and parking, Bilezikian said. The shopping center was built in 1961, according to assessor's records. Some town and governmental rules and regulations need to be addressed before the store can open.

“The center hasn’t been redeveloped since my parents took possession in the 1980s,” he said.

The 23,250-square-foot store will offer a slimmed down number of staples, including bread, milk, and eggs. It’s how Aldi keeps its prices low, according to the Journal’s Youtube video. The company focuses its buying power on fewer products and deals directly with manufacturers.

Aldi is a multinational company founded by brothers Karl and Theo Albrecht. Upon their deaths, the company was placed into a private family foundation. The company was the first to show interest in the location last June, Bilezikian said.

“It’s been a long haul,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a great addition to the neighborhood.”

Christmas Tree Shops, begun in Yarmouth Port, expanded starting in the 1970s, eventually opening locations in New England and New York. The stores were the go-to places for Christmas decorations and lights, paper plates and cups decorated for various holidays, home decoration knock-offs, beach gear and linen and kitchen supplies. Christmas Tree Shops filed for bankruptcy in 2023. Since then, all store locations have been closed.

Denise Coffey writes about business, tourism and issues impacting the Cape’s residents and visitors. Contact her at dcoffey@capecodonline.com.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Former Christmas Tree Shops store in Falmouth will become grocery