Lidl Details 25 Openings, 2 Closures

Lidl U.S. is planning to expand to 100 U.S. stores by the end of 2020—marking a milestone once intended to have been met two years before.

As part of its latest expansion announcement, the Arlington, Va.-based discounter released a list of 25 new locations it intends to open by next spring while also revealing it will close two of its existing stores this summer.

The closures in Kinston and Rockingham, N.C., will be the first stores Lidl will close in the U.S., although the retailer has walked away from a number of projects in development. The Kinston store was among the fleet of 10 new units marking Lidl’s stateside debut in June 2017; the Rockingham store opened a month later. 

Both the Kinston and Rockingham units are similarly situated across the street from a Walmart Supercenter and next door to an Aldi. Lidl said it will give employees of both units an opportunity to relocate and work at other stores within its growing markets when the closures commence, which it said are part of a move “to operate in the most convenient locations.”

Lidl, a division of German retailer Schwarz Group, also announced it will hold a hiring event to fill about 100 new positions at its regional headquarters and distribution center in Alamance County, N.C.

Lidl officials had projected to open up to 100 stores in its first year in the U.S. but reassessed those plans based on its early performance, including dialing down the sizes of some stores and abandoning plans for several stores in the works. It has since restarted its expansion behind a wider variety of store sizes and configurations—many smaller than the 36,000-square-foot prototype of the initial fleet—and in new markets such as New York, which was bolstered by the Best Markets deal, Lidl’s first U.S. acquisition.

“We are committed to long-term growth in the United States and always strive to locate in the most convenient locations for our shoppers,” Johannes Fieber, CEO of Lidl U.S., said in a statement. “These new stores are part of the next steps in our U.S. expansion. Over the next year, we are excited to introduce more customers to Lidl’s award-winning quality, reliably low prices, and convenient shopping experience.”

The 25 new stores include the four units on Long Island, previously announced to be opened as part of Lidl’s takeover of the Best Markets chain. The retailer will also open seven stores in Maryland, two in New Jersey, six in North Carolina, four in Pennsylvania and one each in South Carolina and Virginia as part of the expansion as follows:

Maryland

Catonsville, Baltimore National Pike

College Park, Baltimore Avenue

District Heights, Marlboro Pike

Hagerstown, Dual Highway

Waldorf, Promenade Place

New Jersey

Bergenfield, New Bridge Road

Lacey, U.S. 9

New York

Babylon, Sunrise Highway

Center Moriches, Main Street

Huntington, East Jehrico Turnpike

Plainview, Old Country Road

North Carolina

Cary, N.C. 55

Charlotte, Monroe Road

Matthews, Margaret Wallace Road

Greensboro, West Gate City Boulevard

Raleigh, Buffaloe Road

Wilmington, Eastwood Raod

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, East Butler Street

Trooper, West Ridge Pike

Royersford, East Ride Pike

York, South Richland Avenue

South Carolina

Columbia, Summit Parkway

Virginia

Virginia Beach, Independence Boulevard