Lacey Woman Camped Out Overnight To Be Lacey Lidl's 1st Shopper

LACEY, NJ — Donna Totaro arrived 10 hours early to the grand opening of Lacey's Lidl. She set up a low-lying camping chair, blanket, pillow, jacket and Chex Mix at about 10 p.m. Monday.

Lidl opened at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday with hundreds waiting in line. Of the hundreds who awaited Lidl and ALDI opening on the same morning in Lacey, nobody prepared for it quite like Totaro.

For her punctuality, she received a bouquet of flowers and a $250 gift card. It was all in good fun for her and many who saw her photo circulate on the Lacey Township Chatter Facebook group.

But Totaro also had generous reasons for camping out overnight: helping a family in need. She used to often wait in front of stores late on Thanksgiving night — right before Black Friday.

"I’ve been a single mom for years, raising my son on a budget," she said. "My son was a good child, so I always tried to get what he wanted, but I had to do it on a budget. So if he wanted a bicycle, I would find the best bicycle I could possibly afford, which was usually a Black Friday special."

Totaro hasn't camped out for Black Friday deals in four or five years. She misses the tradition, when shoppers had to wait overnight to have a chance at the best deals.

"Now they have the specials running Thanksgiving day," Totaro said. "Now they even start the Wednesday before Black Friday. I think it’s ridiculous, and I refuse to shop on Thanksgiving because that is a day you spend with your family."

But camping out in front of Lidl brought her back to those Black Friday days. Totaro lives a mile away from the store, so she said she wasn't exactly roughing it.

Totaro dozed off twice for a total of 20 or 30 minutes. She admits the most difficult part was "monitoring my fluid intake." But even that wasn't too bad with a 24-hour Walmart across the street.

"I was able to have someone hold my spot because I had my camping gear and my pillow," Totaro said. "And I was able to go across the street and go to the lady’s room."

Totaro loves kitchen gadgets. So she bought herself two and will soon return to get herself a crepe maker. That will leave her with about $190. She will pick a family in need to donate the rest to for Christmas.

She can't wait to go back to Lidl, under more normal circumstances.

"I really look forward to going back and checking out the bakery," Totaro said. "It smelled delicious."

Related articles:

• Lidl And ALDI Kick Off New Lacey Locations
• ALDI And Lidl: A Storied History, Now In Lacey

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