Lacey: The long-anticipated wait for two new grocery stores is over in town. Yesterday both Aldi and Lidl opened their doors to hungry customers. Many of the early-risers got rewarded with gift cards for being first in line. Today OCSN Staff 01 took a tour of the Lidl location in Lacey. This was my first visit to a Lidl location, so I wanted to check it out. I skipped the Aldi opening as I have been shopping at Aldi for years now.

First off, both stores are German-based and operate similarly. Each are a small format grocery store with limited assortments of food. What stands out for Lidl is they have a in-store bakery department right up front. Both seem to have good prices on house-brand items, and they are packed out in boxes. You also must bring your own bags for Lidl, like Aldi, or pay $0.07-$0.10 per bag. Finally, much of the food they sell is private-label, or store brand. So if you are a name-brand diva- this likely is not the store for you. However, I am certain you won’t be able to taste the difference.

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Inviting Entrance off US 9. Plenty of Lacey Cops hanging around to ensure you don’t make any illegal left turns!

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Brand new building lures you in for the savings. Shopping carts are all returned properly to the corrals. They do NOT use a quarter-return system, so the carts are likely to be left scattered about the parking lot like nomads.

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Custom signage welcoming Lacey residents in the vestibule, along with some popular promotions. They even put the NJ Flag into a symbolic heart- as if they really love to be here!

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Fresh in-store Bakery is up front with delicious cookies. Here’s a hint- baked goods are often priced cheaper if you buy them in twos. Trust me, you will be tempted to eat them in the store actually.

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Special Deals are scattered around endcaps, like this seltzer which is 3/ $1.00! I haven’t seen Seltzer three for a dollar since 1973.

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Excellent selection of meat, chicken, and seafood in their respective sections. Remember- Steak is only for taxpayers!

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Basic Health & Beauty Aids with store-brand Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen for $1.95! With prices like that, you’re losing money by being healthy!

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Much like Aldi, Lidl offers an assortment of non-grocery merchandise at good prices. There were blankets, pillows, baby clothes, tools, air compressors, and anything the buyers could get their hands on. It was like a flea market, but with merchandise that actually worked and wasn’t caked in dirt and nicotine.

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Cheese and Deli Meats. You can get pre-selected deli stuff without having to take a number and wait 20 minutes.

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More general non-grocery merchandise.

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Seafood selection. Fish was so fresh- you’d swear it came from the ocean yesterday!

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There were two rows of produce. Check out those melons 🙂

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Cute shopping carts for your children to push and run over your heels with!

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EGGS for $0.99! That’s cheaper than owning your own chickens!

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Milk is $3.81 per gallon, which is cheaper than having your own cow!

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A massive selection of frozen pizzas, enough to make the most discerning of bachelors or bachelorettes happy! I swear I saw a whole pizza for just over $2!

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Water, water, water! Clear and crisp and only $0.59 per gallon, with a 24-pack of spring water for $2.15. Almost cheaper than tap water!