Who opens a business during a pandemic? These 2 new Triangle grocery stores.
Local shoppers have two new options for groceries this week.
Lidl and Aldi, both Germany-based discount grocery retailers, opened new stores in the area this week, expanding the grocery shopping landscape at a time when safer grocery shopping is a top priority.
The new Lidl location is at 2741 N.C. 55 in Cary, which is in the High House Crossing shopping center near the N.C. 55 and Green Level West Road/High House Road intersection.
The store had a soft opening on Wednesday, without the usual promotional fanfare that accompanies the openings of new locations.
It was a similar story in Raleigh on Wednesday, with the new Aldi on Creedmoor Road.
That location also had a soft opening on Wednesday, with an official opening for Thursday.
Raleigh’s newest Aldi is in the Lynnwood Collection shopping center at 6300 Creedmoor Road.
Lidl had announced last year that the Cary location — that town’s second Lidl — would be one of 25 stores the company would open by Spring 2020.
Aldi had indicated in an earlier news release that the Creedmoor Road store would open in Summer 2020.
Coronavirus safety measures at Lidl and Aldi
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery stores have had to adopt new practices to make sure shoppers and employees are as safe as possible. Here’s what to expect at Aldi and Lidl.
Lidl stores operate under the adjusted hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
The stores undergo enhanced daily cleaning and sanitation regimen, and in accordance with Gov. Roy Cooper’s executive order issued this month, have a reduced store capacity to aid in social distancing inside stores. The stores have special signage throughout the stores and on the floor to remind shoppers of social distancing, and in-store announcements throughout the day.
The stores have installed protective plexiglass shields at checkout lanes, and protective masks and gloves are provided to employees.
Lidl stores also have special shopping hours for seniors (over age 65) and immunocompromised customers: 7 to 8 a.m. each Tuesday and Thursday.
Aldi stores are also operating under reduced hours right now: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
Aldi is also enforcing reduced occupancy limits and social distancing inside stores, with signage throughout the store and at checkout lines, and one-way aisles to reduce congestion. They have installed protective barriers at checkouts and enhanced their cleaning procedures.
Employees are required to wear masks, and their temperature will be taken before each shift.
Aldi offers special shopping hours for “vulnerable shoppers,” which includes “senior citizens, expectant mothers and those with underlying health concerns”: 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
This story was originally published April 30, 2020 at 12:27 PM.
