Sign installers have completed placement of "coming soon" signage at the future Lidl grocery store at 7625 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda. It promises Lidl will be "your new favorite grocery store," and shows a vibrant cloud of fruits and vegetables, with a donut and croissant hidden among them for good measure. An avocado gets its own panel around front. Alas, Lidl will have a hard time delivering the pictured wine bottle, as Montgomery County's archaic liquor laws don't allow the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores.
"Montgomery County's archaic liquor laws don't allow the sale of beer and wine in grocery stores"
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a state law rather than county? And isn't the law regarding companies only being allowed one license for beer/wine sale rather than some sort of ban on grocery store sales? I just bought beer at Dawson's Market yesterday.
Grocery chains are allowed only one store that can sell beer and wine. No liquor.
DeleteYes, this is an antiquated MoCo law that penalizes county residents with higher prices. But, it adds employees to the county dole. Welcome to the socialist state of Montgomery County.
Anticipated opening date?
ReplyDeleteBoth Lidl and Aldi seem similar; however, I do not visit often. Aldi's always are in disarray when I visit. Lidl is better organized. I don't think either one is better than TJ's. Maybe they prices are better for people who buy in bulk.
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I just can't believe we can't get a Kroger or Publix. Publix is the best full service grocery store I've ever been in. They are moving more northward. Richmond has one. Both Safeway and Giant are tired and boring. You know what's missing with these chain grocers, friendly, customer service. Maybe an issue overall in retail but very noticeable in the grocery store. No one is ever around to help it seems and few are friendly nor helpful.
ReplyDeleteFYI: We have a Kroger but it is named “Harris Teeter”.
ReplyDelete6:34 - I understand the Teeter connection to Kroger but they aren't the same. Kroger is nicer.
DeleteHarris Teeter is the local brand name for Kroger.
ReplyDeleteI agree with JAC on Safeway being Tired and Boring. Safeway has gone stale and their stores are now older and dated.
ReplyDeleteGiant is better with the NEW Giant off River Rd being really Nice and up to date.
I don’t really think that Aldi and Lidl are really up to Bethesda Standards so the opening is really not that big of a deal. It’s a small store anyways.
Generally in Maryland Grocery Stores are NOT Permitted to sell Beer and Wine, unlike D.C. and Virginia. The only way they can do it is to section off a Liqour Store and make it a separate Store with a separate enterance.
For future reference: Both the Grosvenor Market and the Bethesda Co-op sell beer and wine. Come to think of it, Rodman's in Rockville sells beer and wine. Balducci's does , of course. And for something different...there is a Polish market & deli "The Kielbasa Factory" in Rockville that also sells wine. While you are out there, you can visit the gravesite of F. Scott Fitzgerald.
ReplyDeleteMinnesota laws are similar-For grocery stores, they need a separate and partitioned area for alcohol sales.
JAC - you need to check out a Wegman's and compare it to Kroger. Pretty sure you would say Wegman's comes out on top.
ReplyDeleteMight be my imagination but I think Wegman's down in DC at the old Fannie Mae (Prudential) site has anticipated the Lidl right near them by dropping their lofty prices some. I can proudly say, I've never been in a Bezos enterprise store so I don't know if discounters rattle them.
ReplyDeleteLidl is awful. Terrible waste of space.
ReplyDeleteI guess you are making a mistake in judgement. Wait for opening day. Visit the store, then give your opinion.
Deleteok....So i live about half a mile from the new store in Bethesda. I work in Europe, where Amazon and American "Anti Trust" have'nt destroyed the local Grocery concept. Lidl is not designed to be a Supermarket - it's purpose is to be local. Remember the concept "Small is Beautiful".
ReplyDeleteMost of Lidl's products are sourced from Germany, Greece, France, Poland, Italy etc... They have a Greek Week when you can get all these Feta filled pastries. All their pasta and sauces... are all Italian. Germany week...Spaetzle...Great tools, planters, greenhouses and recyclers too!
I bought quarts of Italian laquer paint for $3 a quart. Never know what you'll find!
And their bakery: Don't take my word....go and look at the labels on cartons of the fresh un-baked Baguettes and Croissants etc....all from France! It's amazing how they do it! Can't wait for the convenience, yumminess and affordability of their popular "Boulangerie"!!!
And then there's prices...just compare.
Finally: Who owns Trader Joe's (not boring?)...ALDI...ha ha...
But you're welcome to keep shopping at Giant & Balduccis :)
I cannot wait for LIDL to be open!!!! Best grocery store. Publix and Kroger are vastly overpriced compared to this.
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