Lidl opens new store on Dogwood Ave. in Franklin Square

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Hundreds of people were already lined up to see what the new Lidl supermarket on Dogwood Avenue has to offer by 7 a.m. last Wednesday morning, a good half an hour before its official grand opening ceremony.

“It’s going to be brand-spanking-new,” said Christine Straub, of Franklin Square, who had previously shopped at the Germany-based supermarket’s East Meadow location where Kristina Mills, of West Hempstead, would buy seasonal goods at a low price. “I think they’re going to do very well,” Straub said.

The supermarket chain first opened in Ludwigshafen, Germany in 1973, with only three employees and about 500 products, but by the 1990s, there were a number of Lidl stores popping up throughout Europe. It established a headquarters in the United States in June 2015, and in 2018, Lidl acquired 27 Best Market locations in New York and New Jersey.

Its mission, according to the Lidl website, is to offer customers high-quality fresh produce, meat, baked goods and household products at the lowest possible prices. The Franklin Square location also offers a bakery, an international foods section, baby items and everyday groceries, as well as items that are not usually found at supermarkets, such as clothing, toys and home decor.

“We can not wait to get you all inside the store and introduce you to our high-quality, fresh products and low Lidl prices,” Store Manager Tom Regan said, after he introduced the staff to the crowd, adding, “We are so proud to be a part of this vibrant community and open another store in this area.”

As part of the grand opening ceremony — which was promoted by the Morton Civic Association and the Community League of Garden City South to welcome the store into the community and show their support for the business — each of the more than 100 shoppers received free bags and gift cards as a disc jockey played upbeat modern and 1970s hits.

The staff then introduced themselves with a choreographed dance, and local officials were able to get  a private tour of the facility before it officially opened to the public.

“It’s looking very good,” said Town Councilman Thomas Muscarella, with Town Clerk Kate Murray adding that she was “super impressed” and “super excited to see another great store come into this neighborhood.”