Would you ask out a stranger? If so how?

[Leapoffaith00]

I have dated online on and off over the years. I have kinda given up. I'm thinking the natural way or no way.
I live in a small town and visit a certain supermarket a few times a week. There is a guy, not sure if he is some kind of manager there, he dresses in a suit, anyway it's clear he works there. When I see him, I know it sounds so so childish but we share kind of a longer than normal look with eachother. I have also caught him looking as I have been in the many times. He is attractive. I don't have an excuse to talk to him, even if I did I'm not going to say 'hi, are you single and do you sell cheese?'! Do you just move on and let these things go? It's not easy meeting people. Especially as I very rarely find anyone attractive attractive. If he wanted to talk to me, he would have?
How would you even find out of he is single? My friend in work told me to leave my number on his car windscreen. Thats a bit stalker like. Shall I just change supermarkets? Carry on online dating? How does anyone meet anyone naturally?

Could you find a reason just to break the ice first? Maybe ask him where the cheese is (or something)? He might even show you in person!

After that, they'll be a more solid basis for you recognising each other when you go in - so you can say "Hi" at the very least and see if that leads to increased small talk on successive visits.

Could you perhaps ask a friendly looking member of staff who works there? You could say something like "Is that the manager with the suit on? What's his name cos I think I recognise him but I don't want to speak in case its not who I think it is"??

Is there a board on the wall that has staff names on it?

Failing that, either ask a colleague like another disaster says, or if you are brazen enough go up and say “hi, I’m sure I know your face from somewhere but I can’t quite put my finger on it!” That gives you the option to find out a bit about him. He may volunteer that he drinks in xx pub or hes a member of the local ramblers or dog owners group or somesuch, at which point you know where to see him or could do the old “ Ive meant to join a rambling group for ages and just haven’t gotten round to it yet. Are they good” routine, so he can invite you to come along next week. (Obv dont say you want to join if you bloody well hate rambling).
The only prob is you still won’t know if he’s married or not! You could do the “are you Jane’s husband” routine that will lead him to say he’s not married or that he’s Samantha’s husband or whatever. Then you know.
But you need to have balls of steel to walk straight up and say that stuff and you can’t do it if anyone’s about or he’d get slagged off!

If your single and available ask him if he wants to go out for a drink one night. Straight to the point, and say “only if your single though lol” and make a joke of it. Do it, you’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain potentially.

I have done similar. For starters you need to chat several times. Then another time, say you have time to kill between work and meeting someone next week, can he suggest a nice coffee shop? Followed up by do you fancy a coffee?

Small steps and all that. Good luck!

You could ask him about the best way to apply for a job at the supermarket on behalf of your nephew/neighbour's daughter. Smile a lot and make sure you say hi every time you see him after that.