Lidl, Whole Foods Expanding Presence In D.C.

Two grocery chains with significant private brand assortments will soon open new stores in the nation’s capital.

June 28 will be a big day for shoppers in the District of Columbia as Lidl and Whole Foods will each celebrate store grand openings, according to a report from the local media outlet DCist. 

The new Lidl store, which will be the second in Washington, D.C., will be in the central part of the city in Ward 1, which is home to Howard University. The new Whole Foods location will be in the Columbia Heights neighborhood and boost the grocer’s store count in the city to eight.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told DCist that she is excited to welcome the new Lidl store. “Our focus has been — and continues to be — on increasing access to fresh, healthy, and affordable groceries, and that is what Lidl is helping us do,” she said.

Lidl has taken a more measured approach to opening new stores than, for example, Aldi, which continues to announce numerous store openings weekly. Recently, a New York real estate developer announced the forthcoming opening of a new Lidl store in the Chelsea section of Manhattan. When open, this will be the grocer’s second New York City store.