Hilton Head not part of Lidl’s first openings in nation, so what does this mean?

Lidl opened its first stores in the United States last week while discussions continue over the one expected to open on Hilton Head Island.

The German grocer is still interested in opening a Hilton Head location at Sea Turtle Marketplace, formally Pineland Station, said Charles Yowell, a project manager with Bohler Engineering, a company contracted by Lidl to construct the site.

Lidl, the discount grocery store and Aldi competitor, opened 10 stores with two in South Carolina on June 15. The South Carolina locations are Spartanburg and Greenville, according to its website.

Another 10 stores are planned to open in the United States by the end of the summer, a press release states. Hilton Head’s, Bluffton’s and Beaufort’s planned locations are on that list.

Overall the company plans to open 100 stores across the East Coast by summer 2018, the release states.

Yowell said Thursday that discussions continue with Town of Hilton Head staff regarding architecture for the store. Plans for the store were first submitted in June 2016.

Charles Cousins, town director of community development, said Lidl submitted an architectural plan in January. He said staff has maintained conversations with the company since that time.

The company also submitted plans for stores in Bluffton in June 2016 along with Beaufort earlier this year.

The grocer operates 10,000 stores in 26 countries.

This story was originally published June 22, 2017 at 6:12 PM with the headline "Hilton Head not part of Lidl’s first openings in nation, so what does this mean?."