An Aldi supermarket is set to open in Portland later this year, a spokesperson for the company confirmed Wednesday, as the German supermarket chain known for its discounts and coin-operated shopping carts nears its long-awaited arrival in Maine.

In February, Aldi signed a lease for a 25,000-square-foot space in the Pine Tree Shopping Center on Brighton Avenue. The location was previously occupied by Big Lots.

Since then, “coming soon” signs have popped up nearby, and construction work has gotten underway.

The store expects to employ 15 to 20 full- and part-time workers, Aldi spokesperson Qrentis Burrell said Wednesday. When those jobs become available, they will be listed on the Aldi website.

More details about the store’s opening will be announced “in the coming months,” Burrell said.

There are 2,546 Aldi stores across the United States, but none in Maine — yet. The current nearest locations are Newington and Dover, New Hampshire, both about an hour’s drive from Portland.

In March 2024, the company announced a $9 billion expansion across the U.S., with plans to add 800 stores over the next five years. Nearly 330 of those stores are planned for the Northeast and Midwest — two regions where Aldi wants to strengthen its presence.

“Our growth is fueled by our customers, and they are asking for more ALDI stores in their neighborhoods nationwide. … While price is important, we earn their loyalty by stocking our shelves with only the best products and offering a quicker, easier and more enjoyable shopping experience,” Aldi CEO Jason Hart said in 2024.

Aldi’s offerings include mainly store-brand items, which the chain says typically cost 50% less than other stores. The company regularly offers discounts on Wednesdays, when stores are fully restocked.

The store is often compared to Trader Joe’s and a less expensive Whole Foods, both of which have longstanding locations in Portland’s Bayside neighborhood.

Grocery options in Greater Portland have continued to expand beyond local mainstays Hannaford and Shaw’s in recent years. Costco came to the state in 2023, opening its first Maine store in Scarborough, while Market Basket plans to open its fourth store in the state in 2026, also in Scarborough.