How to meet people?

So, I was grocery shopping this evening. I am a creature of habit, there is nothing I do that shows that more than grocery shopping. I go pretty much at the same time of day on the same day of the week. I go into the store at the produce end and wind my way over to the salad bar and deli. Once at the far end, I get something for that night's dinner. As I zig and zag through the aisles I watch people a bit. I note generalities like, hmmm, seems like there's a lot of singles here right now. Or, gee, looks like family night. Or, must be a retirees' discount right now.....

Tonight I was cruising, once in a while, I noticed someone in particular, but only because they were in my way. I got to the end and I was getting my dinner when I noticed a man standing at the salad bar. He was different. He had a pool of calm around him. He was alone. Like he'd been alone for years. I was talking to a friend and said, a bit dramatically and definitely in a silly tone, "he was like a golden grail". I stopped and watched for a moment. I started to leave (creature of habit had finished with the salad bar and deli, it was time to check out). I actually turned back around and pretended to look for more food in that section. I waited to see what he was going to do. He went to sit at the little cafe to eat some food. I hestitated, should I sit too and eat some sushi? Well, I didn't.

What would you have done?