Proposed Lidl Store Moves Forward In Woodstock

WOODSTOCK, GA — The Cherokee County Commission last month approved variances to its code that would accommodate a German grocer's plans to open a store in Woodstock.

The Board of Commissioners unanimously voted at their Dec. 18 meeting to allow the company to deviate from its standards related to street frontage and street tree requirements. It also allowed the company to install an additional wall sign on its property.

Lidl is seeking to open a 29,136-square-foot store on 3.17 acres of land at the southwest corner of Bells Ferry Road and Eagle Drive. Its application to the county for consideration indicates the store would include 128 parking spaces.

Lidl will open two stores over the next month in Cobb County: the Powder Springs store will open Jan. 16 while its Mableton facility is set to open to the public on Feb. 13. Another Lidl store in Snellville is on target to open Jan. 30. In 2017, Lidl announced plans to create 250 jobs and invest $100 million over the next five years in its new regional headquarters and distribution center in Bartow County.

This isn't Lidl's first time with exploring a potential expansion in Cherokee County. Canton Community Development Director Ken Patton said the company had property under contract in the city, but "never closed on the property."

In January 2017, the Woodstock City Council voted to approve variances Lidl sought to open on Highway 92 just west of Trickum Road. However, those plans never came to fruition. City Manager Jeff Moon said Lidl closed on the Highway 92 property and still owns the land. However, its land disturbance permit has expired, so the company would need to renew it with Woodstock before it can proceed with any development plans.

"The last contact was with their architect in November when they called with some questions about the building plans," Moon said. "They have not notified us that they aren’t moving forward, although we don’t have a timeline from them."

Lidl operates about 10,500 stores in 29 countries, offering customers produce, meat, bakery items and a wide array of household products. It opened its U.S. headquarters in Virginia in June 2015, and today sells its products in more than 50 stores across nine east coast states.

Chandler Ebeier, a spokesperson for Lidl US, said the company has not scheduled any grand opening dates for stores in the area beyond the two Cobb County stores and the facility in Gwinnett.

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Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images