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The moon sets over Lidl as the sun rises Sept. 7, 2017, with hundreds of customers wrapped around the store for its grand opening.
Danville’s Lidl grocery store is closing at the end of the month.
Opened to much fanfare in September 2017, Lidl spokesperson Jessica Shangle confirmed the closure to the Register & Bee on Tuesday.
“This was an underperforming location within our strongly growing store network and we made a strategic decision to close this location so we can focus on the locations where we are seeing significant growth,” Shangle said in an emailed statement.
The store will close July 31.
“We appreciate the hard work of every member of the team and all employees will have the opportunity to relocate to a different store within Lidl’s growing store network,” she said.
For getting to the store at 4 a.m. and waiting patiently in line, first customers Almer Hughes and Wanda Motley were given a bouquet of flowers Sept 7, 2017, as first customers of the day.
Shangle said about 20 people worked at the Danville location.
On Sept. 7, 2017, hundreds of people were lined up at 7 a.m. waiting for the new store to open at 8 a.m. At the time, the Danville location was the 28th store Lidl had opened in the country. It also has about 10,000 stores in 27 European countries.
“Thank you for choosing Danville as a store location, for the investment you have made in this community, for the jobs you are providing and for the shopping experience that we all will enjoy,” John Gilstrap, the mayor of Danville at the time, told the crowd moments before the store opened. “We take pride in our city serving as a regional destination for shopping.”
Then ribbon was cut, employees danced — literally — back into the store, and the doors opened.
When the doors opened, a Register & Bee reporter spotted a few of the bargains right after the ribbon-cutting: whole chicken leg quarters for 69 cents a pound; 89-cent pineapples; 39-cents-a-pound bananas; gallons of milk ranging in price from $1.77 to $2.13, depending on grade; and eggs for 44 cents a dozen.
The ribbon was cut on Lidl Thursday morning to much fanfare and highly anticipated grand opening. Mayor John Gilstrap was on hand to cut the ribbon along with Vice Mayor Alonzo Jones and Councilman James Buckner. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
For getting to the store at 4am and waiting patiently in line, first customers Almer Hughes and Wanda Motley were given a bouquet of flowers. Seen here entering Lidl as the first customers of the day. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Ashley Peace, Director of Real Estate for Lidl US treated the Register & Bee along with Mayor John Gilstrap and Vice Mayor Alonzo Jones to a tour of the store prior to opening. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
The wine selection was put together by Adam Lapierre, master of wine who tried over 10,000 wines to make this selection possible. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Ashley Peace shows Mayor John Gilstrap how to weigh a honeydew apple. After weighing, the machine prints out a label which can be used at the register for quicker checkout. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
The front of Lidl features a large produce selection and an enticing bakery with lots of fresh baked goods daily stocked. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
The moon sets over Lidl as the sun rises with hundreds of customers wrapped around the store for its much anticipated grand opening. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
The moon sets over Lidl as the sun rises with hundreds of customers wrapped around the store for its much anticipated grand opening. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
The moon sets over Lidl as the sun rises with hundreds of customers wrapped around the store for its much anticipated grand opening. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Customers began gathering in front of Lidl at 4am Thursday morning and the first 100 were given gift cards. Bags were also handed out as well as cloth bags for downloading the Lidl app. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Customers began gathering in front of Lidl at 4am Thursday morning and the first 100 were given gift cards. Bags were also handed out as well as cloth bags for downloading the Lidl app. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Samples flowed freely at Lidl Thursday morning as hundreds waited for the much anticipated grand opening in Danville. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Customers began gathering in front of Lidl at 4am Thursday morning and the first 100 were given gift cards. Bags were also handed out as well as cloth bags for downloading the Lidl app. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Customers began gathering in front of Lidl at 4am Thursday morning and the first 100 were given gift cards. Bags were also handed out as well as cloth bags for downloading the Lidl app. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Customers began gathering in front of Lidl at 4am Thursday morning and the first 100 were given gift cards. Bags were also handed out as well as cloth bags for downloading the Lidl app. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Lidl employees and customers listen to Mayor John Gilstrap welcome the company into Danville. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Lidl employees and customers listen to Mayor John Gilstrap welcome the company into Danville. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Fresh produce at competitive pricing can be found just inside the door. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Fresh produce at competitive pricing can be found just inside the door. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Customers entering Lidl are enticed by a fresh bakery offering dozens of baked goods, stocked every morning. There is also loaf bread available and a slicer for all sorts of thicknesses. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Customers entering Lidl are enticed by a fresh bakery offering dozens of baked goods, stocked every morning. There is also loaf bread available and a slicer for all sorts of thicknesses. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Ashley Peace, Director of Real Estate for Lidl US treated the Register & Bee along with Mayor John Gilstrap and Vice Mayor Alonzo Jones to a tour of the store prior to opening. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Aisles in Lidl are very wide with lots of space that includes high grades of food products. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Vice Mayor Alonzo Jones checks out the seafood selection at Lidl. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Lidl features a surprise section where home furnishings, appliances, and other goods can be found. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Lidl features a large beer selection featuring a house brand that has won several awards. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
The wine selection was put together by Adam Lapierre, master of wine who tried over 10,000 wines to make this selection possible. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Over 70 beers can be found at any time in Lidl. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
The front of Lidl features a large produce selection and an enticing bakery with lots of fresh baked goods daily stocked. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Vice Mayor Alonzo Jones and Mayor John Gilstrap were impressed by the selection of nuts available to shoppers. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
The Italian products feature items that can't easily be found in the Dan River Region. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Flowers are priced low and are available near the produce section. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
The front of Lidl features a large produce selection and an enticing bakery with lots of fresh baked goods daily stocked. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Customers began lining up at 4am for the grand opening of Lidl in Danville. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Mayor John Gilstrap speaks to Lidl employees and customers before cutting the ribbon on the store. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
For getting to the store at 4am and waiting patiently in line, first customers Almer Hughes and Wanda Motley were given a bouquet of flowers. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
For getting to the store at 4am and waiting patiently in line, first customers Almer Hughes and Wanda Motley were given a bouquet of flowers. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
For getting to the store at 4am and waiting patiently in line, first customers Almer Hughes and Wanda Motley were given a bouquet of flowers. Seen here entering Lidl as the first customers of the day. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Lidl customers get grocery carts and march forward as Lidl opened to much fanfare and excitement Thursday. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Lidl customers get grocery carts and march forward as Lidl opened to much fanfare and excitement Thursday. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
The first 100 customers received gift cards to Lidl Thursday morning. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
A bread slicer allows customers to control the thickness of their bread loafs in the bakery. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Spices can be found at low prices to fit a variety of needs. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
Lidl customers get grocery carts and march forward as Lidl opened to much fanfare and excitement Thursday. Matt Bell/Register & Bee
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The moon sets over Lidl as the sun rises Sept. 7, 2017, with hundreds of customers wrapped around the store for its grand opening.
For getting to the store at 4 a.m. and waiting patiently in line, first customers Almer Hughes and Wanda Motley were given a bouquet of flowers Sept 7, 2017, as first customers of the day.
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