German Grocer Doubles Down On MD With New Opening, Expansion Plans

Updated 11:05 a.m.

BALTIMORE, MD — A popular German grocery brand is doubling down on its expansion plans for Maryland, with plans to open its latest shop next month.

Lidl will be setting up at 5950 Belair Road in Baltimore, the site that previously housed the popular Bel-Garden Bi-Rite grocery store that closed in 2021. Bi-Rite had served the community for nearly 60 years before its closure.

The grand opening for the 25,400-square-foot space will be held Dec. 16. The ribbon-cutting ceremony gets underway at 7:40 a.m., just 20 minutes before the store opens.

The grocer says exclusive opening offers will be made available to early shoppers.

Lidl's opening announcement brings to a close several years of questions surrounding the future of the Belair Road site, which saw the building remain vacant despite construction wrapping up.

"Opening this store gives us the wonderful opportunity to serve Baltimore shoppers with top-tier quality at unbeatable prices," Jassine Ouali, chief customer officer at Lidl US, said in a statement.

From baked goods to fresh produce and home essentials, the brand offers a range of goods.

"Customers are looking for genuine value without having to compromise on freshness or taste, and that is exactly what this store deliver," Ouali said. "From our in-store bakery and daily essentials to our rotating weekly surprises, we look forward to welcoming the entire community through our doors."

The new opening makes up more than 20 Lidl locations across Maryland, with nearby sites in Catonsville, Nottingham, and Timonium.

Baltimore Business Journal reported that plans are also underway for a new Lidl location on Central Avenue, near Johns Hopkins Hospital, as well as in the Greektown neighborhood.

Similar to other Lidl locations, the new Greenville shop will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Expansion In Montgomery County

News of Lidl's growth in the Baltimore Metro region also comes as the brand is signing on as an anchor store for the White Oak Town Center in Montgomery County.

The brand will be taking over the space that was previously covered by Amazon Fresh, which shuttered as part of Amazon's nationwide closure announcement in late January.

Latest property layouts show Lidl will be situated opposite the First Watch eatery at the White Oak Town Center, located at 12345 Columbia Pike.

No opening date has been released for the brand's expansion in Montgomery County, which houses four Lidl sites in Bethesda, Takoma Park, Montgomery Village, and Wheaton.

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