Washington ( CNN ) -- She has the White House staff at her disposal , but that did n't stop first lady Michelle Obama from making a Target run in a Virginia suburb of Washington Thursday . Dressed casually in a gray Nike hat , loose floral blouse , black pants and red flats , the first lady was seen pushing a cart and carrying several bags from the mega-retailer at a Target in Alexandria , Virginia . The store is about a 15-minute drive from the White House . A photographer from The Associated Press snapped a photograph of Obama exiting the store . White House officials declined to provide any details of Thursday 's outing , saying to protect her privacy they do n't release information about the first lady 's personal activities . They did , however , say trips like these are not uncommon . `` It is not uncommon for the First Lady to slip out to run an errand , eat at a local restaurant or otherwise enjoy the city outside the White House gates , '' Kristina Schake , Michelle Obama 's communications director , said in a statement . In an interview with CNN , the manager of the Target where Obama shopped said the first lady went unrecognized while she was in the store . `` People did not approach her , she was very incognito , '' Maria Panagopulof said . `` We did n't realize truly what was happening until she had almost left . The cashier recognized her , but she was very unassuming . '' Panagopulof said the store received no advance of the first lady 's trip . `` We did not have advance notice ; it was as big a surprise to us as it was to everyone else , '' she said . She continued , `` In hindsight , there was a sweep , but it was not obvious to us beforehand . When she left we thought 'Oh , that 's what that was ! ' '' In May , Michelle Obama told Oprah Winfey that casual shopping trips were one of the things she missed from her life before the White House . `` I think one of the greatest sacrifices for people like us -- who like being with people â€ ” is that it 's the bubble , '' Obama said . `` We talked about it . I ca n't go to Target and walk around . I guess I could but it would mess up everyone else 's shopping experience . '' CNN 's Alex Mooney and Leslie Bentz contributed to this report .
Store manager : `` It was as big a surprise to us as it was to everyone else '' Dressed casually , Panagopulof shops at a Washington -area the White House store . The First lady 's spokeswoman says `` it is not uncommon '' for Obama to get out of Target .