Lidl, the German discount grocery chain, is set to make a significant mark on the Queens retail landscape with the opening of its newest store at Queens Place Mall on Wednesday, Jan. 24.
The store replaces DSW, the discount shoe store, at 88-01 Queens Blvd. in Elmhurst, which shuttered in 2022.
Lidl’s entry into Queens Place Mall represents a major expansion for the company, with it taking 35,000 square feet of space. The store will occupy the entire lower level of the 440,000-square-foot neighborhood mall, which opened in 1965. This store will be Lidl’s second in Queens, following the opening of its Astoria location in April 2021. A third location is set to open this year at the Glen Oaks shopping center on Union Turnpike.
Renowned for its blend of American products and European specialties, Lidl offers an array of items, from hard-to-find cheeses to authentic specialty sauces and cured meats.
Lidl has a major international presence, having around 11,550 stores in 32 countries, with more than 341,000 employees worldwide. Its U.S. operations began in June 2015 with the establishment of its headquarters in Arlington County, VA. Since then, the chain has opened more than 150 stores across nine East Coast states, offering fresh produce, meat, bakery items, and household products at competitive prices.
To mark its grand opening, Lidl is hosting a family-friendly event on Jan. 23, a day before the official launch. The open house will provide residents with a first look of the store’s diverse offerings. The celebration continues on the official opening day, Jan. 24, starting with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 8 a.m. Opening day will include music and complimentary giveaways, such as the chain’s famous croissants, coffee, and orange juice.
The first 100 customers on opening day will be rewarded with gift cards, each worth up to $100. Furthermore, all who visit on inaugural day will have the opportunity to enter a drawing, with three lucky individuals winning a year’s supply of free groceries.
