Meijer Opens "Marketplace" Concept in Chicago Community of Melrose Park

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Less than two years after launching its first new format store in the Chicago market, Meijer delivers another new concept to its Chicago-area customers as it officially cuts the ribbon on Meijer Marketplace, a more localized grocery store in Melrose Park.

"Meijer is thrilled to bring our newest store concept to this great community," said Hank Meijer, Co-Chairman and CEO of the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. "Our team has worked very hard to bring the great Meijer experience to our new customers in the Melrose Park area, and we're very proud to join this vibrant neighborhood."

Meijer will kick-off its grand opening celebration Thursday, August 25 with a ribbon-cutting event at 7:00 a.m., which will be followed by remarks by Meijer officials and local dignitaries, along with the presentation of a check for $25,000 to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, which will be used to support local youth programs and the Parish's food bank.

"We are proud to welcome Meijer to our community, as a great place to both shop and work," said Mayor Ronald Serpico.  "Meijer along with other new businesses in Melrose Park are helping to lead the charge in the economic re-development of the near-west suburbs.  We look forward to a long and successful partnership with them."

At 90,000 square feet, Meijer Marketplace will be nearly half the size of Meijer's largest supercenters. The smaller-format store will offer the Melrose Park community the "Higher Standards and Lower Prices" that Meijer customers have come to expect, featuring national and Meijer own brand grocery items, along with a full-service pharmacy offering a variety of national and Meijer brand health and beauty products.  

Meijer team members have worked to ensure the new store has the benefits of larger Meijer stores, in essence offering a "mini" supercenter concept. Much of the focus on the store in Melrose Park will be on providing local customers with a tailored grocery shopping experience with fresh quality meats and produce, as well as a wide variety of deli, bakery and pantry items.  The new Meijer store will include a targeted assortment of Hispanic produce, Italian deli meats, European cookies, a fresh sushi bar, and more than 40 varieties of Hispanic beer, providing a new shopping option for the ethnically-diverse community nearby.

In the general merchandise area, the Meijer Marketplace will feature key categories such as electronics, seasonal items, toys, home, kitchen and bath items and a pet department, with numerous national brand products throughout the aisles.  Meijer will maintain an open dialogue with its Melrose Park customers and make adjustments to product offerings based on the specific needs of the local community.

Meijer opened its first Chicago-area store in Bolingbrook in 1999. With the addition of Melrose Park, Meijer now has 14 stores in the Chicago area ranging in size from full supercenters to smaller, grocery-focused stores in Niles and Orland Park. Meijer employs nearly 3,000 team members in the Chicago area, with more than 150 new jobs created by the opening of the new Melrose Park store.

About Meijer

Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 197 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. As the inventor 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, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers and apparel offerings. Additional information on Meijer and the ability to shop for more can be found at www.meijer.com.

SOURCE Meijer