Lidl — Local services in Glenn Dale

Lidl is a nice addition to our local grocery store mix in PG County. It's a European chain in the model of Aldi and Trader Joe's - familiar foods with unfamiliar labels. But in my experience, I've really liked the products that I've tried and the prices are shockingly low. Great bakery, produce and floral departments though, like Trader Joe's and Aldi, the variety of produce is somewhat limited compared to what you'd find at traditional grocers (like Safeway, Shopper's, Harris Teeter's).

I probably shop there twice a month, in part because of their diapers! Trying a new brand of diaper is RISKY, but the prices were so low (31 size 4's for $5 compared to $9 for 28 Pampers at Safeway) I had to test them out. They are excellent - I've been buying them for months now and no leaks, even over night!

I took away a star because when I shop at Lidl, I definitely have to do a second shopping trip to a traditional grocery for certain family favorites (the Quaker breakfast bars my son likes, our family's favorite whole wheat white bread, etc). My family is pescetarian and we eat a lot of plant-based protein. Though Lidl has great prices on fish and seafood, they only have one variety of veggie burger and none of the alternatives (veggie sausage, chicken, etc) that I find at Safeway, Giant or Mom's. But even in going to a second store, I can generally stay under my normal grocery budget if I've shopped at Lidl. The determining factor is usually whether I have time to make two stops.

All in all, I recommend shopping there....

So far so good. I'm a bit of an Aldi fanatic and when I heard a Lidl was coming to the East coast I was pretty happy! I didn't even know this Bowie store was in the works until it opened and I've visited it twice so far. I'm not sure why other reviewers are giving it 1 star. Yes the parking lot is a bit on the smaller side but I doubt this will be an issue in the long-term since the store is set up for people to quickly get what they need and get out. This store is about double the size of a typical Aldi but smaller than most local American grocery chains. There is a bakery right in the front of the store along with the produce. Everything is logically laid out so that you can grab what you need and check out. The only thing I wish they would change is having all of the foreign goods in one spot rather than spread out all over the store.

I'm not sure if the prices are set in stone or if it is just an opening-week sale but they are definitely going head-to-head with Aldi and Walmart with their pricing. For equivalent products, Lidl's prices either match or are lower than their competitors and so far the quality of the food is great. The bakery goods are insanely cheap: 51c for a pretzel, $1.13 for a loaf of bread, 34c for a donut and all goods were buy 1 get 1 50% off which may just be a sale.

The store also has bizarre goods like multi-ladders, impact guns, shoes, shirts, household goods, its almost like an Ikea merged with Aldi merged with Harbor freight. Go check it out...

Disappointing Decline in Customer Service at Bowie Lidl I'm writing this review with a heavy heart because I used to genuinely love shopping at the Bowie Lidl. It was once my go-to grocery store, but lately, the declining customer service, particularly among the cashiers, has me seriously considering taking my business elsewhere. I'm giving this store a 2-star rating due to the consistently poor interactions at checkout. Many of the cashiers seem to lack basic customer service etiquette. It's common for them to not greet you, avoid eye contact, and fail to even tell you your total or wish you a nice day. Instead, they often engage in conversations with other cashiers while scanning your items. I've also observed cashiers chewing gum or even being on their phones during transactions, which I find incredibly unprofessional and disrespectful. This type of behavior is simply unacceptable, and I'm honestly puzzled as to how it's tolerated. Where is the management? It makes me wonder if they're even aware of these issues, or perhaps, as I suspect, they're part of the problem themselves. I highly doubt I'm the only customer who feels this way, yet it seems to be an ongoing issue that goes unaddressed. It's a shame to see a store I once valued fall so short on something as fundamental as customer service. I hope Lidl takes these concerns seriously and makes significant improvements before more loyal customers decide to...