Students' Impressions on Lidl

Image credit: Emma Grazado for The Campus Trainer

Lidl, a German grocery chain, opened its doors in College Park last June. This fall has been the first semester that Lidl has been open for students to buy groceries.

Many students, both local and international, were excited to see a new grocery store open up in the area as they came back to campus this fall. Has Lidl lived up to the hype? Students weighed in.

Before Lidl, buying groceries in College Park was a hassle for many.

“I would actually drive 30 minutes outside of College Park to a Wegmans because it had much cheaper prices than the grocery stores in the area,” said senior public health major Kelsey Talarico.

Closer options to College Park include a Target with limited options and a pricey Whole Foods in Riverdale Park.

Students who have spent time abroad were also happy to see Lidl arrive in the area.

“I’ve been to Lidl in Germany and I usually go every time I visit family,” said sophomore government and politics major Mariam Hashem. “It’s one of my favorite grocery stores.”

The biggest appeal of Lidl is its prices. All shoppers interviewed agreed that it was not only a good option, but also a cheap one.

“I love it because it fits my budget while also offering really high quality nice food,” Talarico said.

Shoppers also appreciate Lidl implementing sustainable practices into their customer experience.

“I really like how they encourage you to bring your own bags by making you pay for bags,” said Claudia Trauger, senior marketing and management major.

Customers can buy paper or reusable shopping bags if they forget to bring their own.

Lidl carries its own brand of groceries, as well as some name-brand replacements.

“My favorite products are the baked pastries,” said sophomore information science major Vinson Povlitz. “They are a great treat and taste amazing.”

The bakery section is what makes Lidl truly different from traditional American grocery stores.

“The various breads, pastries and pretzels remind me of those in Germany, which are delicious!” added Hashem.

College Park is located in Prince George’s County, which at one time was labeled a “food desert” for its lack of groceries and fresh food by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Recent grocery shopping locations, like Lidl and the Riverdale Park Whole Foods, have helped improve the lack of options in the area.

So, not only has Lidl improved the lives of University of Maryland students trying to cook for themselves for the first time, but it has also contributed to improving the well-being of the county.

Students are very happy to have an affordable and accessible option.

“It’s literally the best thing to happen to me in college,” said Talarico. “It’s really my favorite place to shop.”