Lidl has opened its third metro Atlanta store in a little more than a month, with the newest location in Lawrenceville.
The grocery store at 3520 Sugarloaf Parkway opened without fanfare June 10. The company has not held grand opening events for its new stores, including those in Peachtree Corners and Suwanee, because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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The store is taking precautions to help prevent the spread of the virus while allowing guests to shop for essential products. The store has an “enhanced” daily cleaning and sanitation regimen and a weekly sanitation process performed by an outside company, the company said. Only five customers per 1,000 square feet are allowed in the store, and an employee is charged with managing customer flow and any line that may form. Shopping carts will be disinfected after each use and signage around the store, including on floors, will direct customers to perform social distancing — staying at least six feet apart from other people unless they live together.
Protective barriers will be in place at checkout counters to protect cashiers and customers. The store also encourages contactless payment, which most often takes the form of a customer swiping or inserting their own credit card instead of using cash for a transaction. All employees will wear masks and gloves, which the company provides.
For people at the highest risk of contracting coronavirus — people aged 65 and older and those considered immunocompromised —there are designated shopping hours. These people can shop from 7 to 8 a.m. Immunocompromised employees and employees over age 65 are also eligible for paid administrative leave, the company said in a release.
Lidl has committed to providing up to 14 days paid leave for any employees who test positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. All of the company’s employees, including part-time workers, are eligible for health insurance.
The Lawrenceville location is Lidl’s seventh in Georgia. The German company’s metro Atlanta locations include Suwanee, Peachtree Corners, Snellville, Marietta and Mableton. Lidl is also preparing to open a distribution center in Covington which is expected to employ 270 people.
