Lidl — Local services in Glenmont

This store is honestly embarrassing. The supervisors/managers walk around like glorified stockers while the checkout lines are backed up halfway through the aisles. You’ll have five people restocking shelves, but somehow not one of them can jump on a register. It’s like they forgot the whole point of a grocery store is for customers to pick up items & check out - not be held hostage in a checkout line.

Then there was the day I lost my limited-edition water bottle, a bottle I can’t replace. That’s when I really saw how bad the management is. I only went to two stores that day: this one and the CVS nearby. CVS pulled up their cameras. This Lidl acted like I asked them to solve a cold case mur*er mystery. The supervisor then went on to tell me they only check for wallets.

Who decides what’s worth looking for? You don’t know the value of someone’s belongings; it could be sentimental, expensive, or both. If it’s a customer’s property, take it seriously. And honestly, if you make it clear you don’t care about anything unless it’s a wallet, what’s to stop someone on your own staff from taking advantage of that? There’s no accountability, no reassurance for customers or for the business. You’re just telling everyone, “We’re not going to bother to check.”

And sure enough, that same supervisor’s attitude rubbed off on her subordinate, who refused to even call a manager when I asked. Being just as dismissive. I had to go around her and ask someone else. Why did it have to go that far? But of course, that's what happens when the supposed leaders are setting a low bar.

When I finally got the store manager, she acted as if my frustrations with those before her no longer mattered just because she was now talking to me. No accountability for her staff & to this day, no follow-up on my bottle - nothing.

Every visit is not great: every visit is the same: long lines, poor leadership, zero sense of urgency or care. The energy of this place screams, “We don’t give a damn.” Corporate (past regional management) really needs to do a secret shopper visit, because if they saw what actually goes on here, they’d be embarrassed.

But shout-out to the one cashier who was there around 9 or 10 in the morning on September 22, 2025. The line was ridiculous, and she just held it down - doing her job without showing one ounce of frustration. I really hope I didn’t come across the wrong way with her, because I know none of this is on her - it’s on her management team. I asked her to radio someone for help so it would be on record that a call was made, and still no one came up until I went over in person to tell them someone needed to get up front.

She was a total trooper - a strong worker for sure. If they do any kind of employee recognition or incentives, she deserves it. Because it’s clear this isn’t the first time management has left her hanging like that, and she still handled it with professionalism. I respect that. Honestly, if I were her, I’d be reporting all of you for how poorly you run this place.

The pictures are from September 22, 2025. I didn’t take more, but the line grew past what’s shown. There’s no reason a line should ever get that long. Unless it’s some shopper panic related to some kind of emergency, this was not that. Just a poorly run store.

And just to give a little grace (in-store customer service still terrible) - maybe this is also on corporate or the regional team. Maybe they’re not giving this store the funding and support it actually needs. Because I’ve been to other locations in the DMV - and those are run so much better, even with higher foot traffic and/or less space. So what’s the deal here? Are you intentionally ignoring this location because of the area it’s in? Are you not providing proper staffing or resources? Setting up the store to fail, in turn failing your customers? There are plenty of reviews pointing out the same problems, and they’re still not being fixed. So whether it’s store management, corporate, or regional - somebody needs to take responsibility and actually address...

6\25\25 Why don't they clean this place? So dirty! The store in Montgomery Village is SO MUCH cleaner, organized and much better! I hate coming to the Glenmont location but it's near me.

2\5\25 I hadn't been to LIDL in a while because the Forest Glen location, on Randolph, really upset me. Their parking is a mess, their shelf prices ring up differently at the register, their scales at the register claim that your purchase weighs MUCH more than it actually does, their products and shelf price tag are wrong, the store setup is a mess and to pay, they have only 1 register open with a LONG line of customers!

Today I was driving by the Montgomery Village store, in Gaithersburg, and decided to give it a try. Parking was great, prices were accurate, easy to find what I was looking for and checkout was a breeze!

6\29\22 I go to Lidl about once s week. The last couple of times I've felt cheated! I went to Lidl last week to buy grapes. I was charged for 1.97lbs but when I got home and put it on the scale, it was 1.17lbs! Yesterday, I went to buy cherries, that are not cheap! I was charged for 1.93lbs but when I got home and put it on the scale, it was 1.15! So now I'm really mad! Next time I go here, i will bring my scale, get a 2lb bag of flour, weigh it on my scale, and then on theirs. Call the manager over and show him! Montgomery County needs to test this place and consider a fine.

6\1\22 Went there to get the special on grapes, which they had and I bought 1.97 pounds. When I got home, i weighed it and it was really 1 17 pounds! So their scales are cheating you! Try it! Take a frozen 16oz of frozen vegetables and weigh it! Make sure it comes out as 16 and not 24oz! I'm contacting Montgomery County department of of weights and measures and also the fraud department!

3\9\22 I love this place, BUT. ... I usually go here at night, when it's less crowded. UNFORTUNATELY, for some odd reason, the lights in their parking lot don't work! Originally i thought it was because the store was new and they weren't connected. Now, almost a year later, the lights still don't work? Are they being cheap and trying to save money by not turning on their parking lot lights at night? When someone gets hurt or raped and sure the store, they will turn on the lights!

04\09\22 I come here often as I extremely enjoy this Lidl. Unfortunately, i hace been here on 3 separate occasions this week, trying to get the special on Salmon. Sadly, they have been out every time that I come! Actually, i have come here many times and they have been out of their specials. I used to go to the Lidl in College Park but when this opened, I started shopping here, since it's s little closer to where I live. Obviously their store manager or buyer doesn't know how to buy and can't supply the community! When I asked for a "rain check" for the salmon, i was told that they don't offer"rain checks. That's fair! Not!

5\6\22 I am really getting tired of coming here and them being out of their specials! Almost everytime I come here, i leave not buying what is on special! Does their buyer not know how to buy? Or is it a sham, to get customers to come to the store? Another problem i have here, everytime is that items are in the wrong place, with the wrong price showing! Also, no staff to direct you to where items are. The only 3 employees are the 2 or 3 cashier's that have mons of people in line! To the manager ... Fix you parking lot lights, Stock your store, Hire more employees to stock your shelves, put things in place, clean the "floor" and help customers, More cashiers to get customers in and out faster.

There are to many competitors to not cheat your customers. Show them respect for spending their hard earned money at your store! Keep your customers happy and they come back to you or they will go to Lotte,...

Lidl in Glenmont, MD, a store which replaced a Shoppers grocery store except Lidl has a much much smaller footprint than the former Shoppers store.

The Good: Bakery Department: The fresh baguettes, croissants, pizza twists, and other baked goods are a definite highlight and a major draw for the store. Good Deals: Lidl offers reasonable prices on groceries, making it a convenient and cost-effective option for many in the area. Central Location: The store's location is a significant advantage for local residents, providing easy access to groceries.

The Not-So-Good: Cart Availability & Parking Lot Issues: A major point of frustration is the lack of grocery carts at the store entrance. This is compounded by the fact that many carts are scattered throughout the parking lot with their wheels locked due to the range-limitation system, making it difficult to retrieve them. Store Maintenance: The store's overall appearance is often a mess. A persistent issue of one of the main entrances being out of order for months is a significant inconvenience, particularly for shoppers entering from the side closest to Planet Fitness.

And the worst of it all is this---

Long Checkout Lines: Whether you have a few items or a full cart, the lines are consistently long, creating a frustrating and time-consuming shopping experience. Staffing Issues could be a main cause to the lack of stars and could fix most these problems may be related to staffing shortages and are not necessarily the store's fault, they unfortunately detract from the overall customer experience.

My overall verdict:

This Lidl location is a double-edged sword. It offers great value and a fantastic bakery, making it a popular choice for budget-conscious shoppers in a central location. However, the consistent operational and logistical issues—scattered carts, a non-functional entrance, and long lines—make the shopping experience a significant "pain." I would love to give it more stars, but the ongoing inconveniences prevent that. For those who choose to shop here, it is best to go in with the understanding that you may need to prepare for a more challenging shopping trip...