Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Meijer opened a new 192,000-s.f. supercenter June 2 in the southern Michigan town of Sturgis.
“Opening this store has been a long time coming, and we’re thrilled the day is finally here,” CEO Hank Meijer said. “Sturgis has never had a one-stop shopping destination like Meijer, so we’re proud to be the retailer to fill that void.”
The new store is the latest of nine new Meijer supercenters to open and is part of an investment of more than $400 million in new and remodeled stores this year that will create 3,000 new jobs across the retailer’s six-state foot print.
Meijer operates more than 100 stores in its home state.
“Meijer has always prided itself on listening to its customers and surrounding communities,” President Rick Keyes said. “The residents of Sturgis wanted a Meijer supercenter, so we were happy to deliver. We’re confident that this store will not only meet every expectation Sturgis shoppers have, but exceed them at every turn.”
The Sturgis store is expected to draw customers from St. Joseph, Cass and Branch counties. It is located at the corner of South Centerville Road and West South Street.
At the opening, Store Director Marsha Keefer presented $25,000 to the Doyle Community Center to help with the construction of a new 2,500-s.f. strength training center to its multi-purpose sports, fitness and recreational facility.
In addition to the retailer’s traditional grocery and merchandise, garden center and 24-hour gas station, the new Sturgis Meijer pharmacy will offer drive-thru pickup and the company’s free prescription program. The prescription program includes oral generic antibiotics, with a special focus on prescriptions most often filled for children, prenatal vitamins and medications for those with diabetes and high cholesterol. Since its inception in 2006, the Meijer free prescription program has filled nearly 33 million free prescriptions, saving Meijer customers nearly $454 million.
As part of its grand opening celebration, the new Sturgis Meijer location will feature a variety of grand opening events in the coming weeks. On Sunday, June 5, the first 200 customers to enter the store after 6 a.m. will receive a Meijer mystery gift card with a value of $5, $10 or $20. Other events this summer include an in-store community picnic on June 10; a Family Fun Day on June 11; Meijer Fan Fest featuring sports-themed activities on June 18; a Fun Day with Purina and the Nesquik Bunny on July 9; and a Health & Wellness Event on July 16.
The Sturgis store is built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and will be open 24 hours a day.
The store’s grocery options include more than 600 varieties of farm-fresh produce and a full-service meat department that features fresh seafood, Certified Angus Beef and custom cuts of meat. The bakery specializes in custom-decorated cakes and fresh bread baked four times daily.
As part of its ongoing community support, Meijer donates more than 6 percent of its net profit to charitable organizations annually, and each of its stores work with local food pantries and banks to help fight hunger at the local level. Since 2008, the retailer’s Simply Give program has generated more than $21 million for its food pantry partners throughout the Midwest.
Meijer operates 226 supercenters and grocery stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. As a pioneer of the “one-stop shopping” concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, apparel departments, garden centers and electronics.
