Meijer Opens New Supercenter in Danville

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Nov. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Meijer will open a supercenter in Danville, Ill., on Nov. 7, marking its final of six new stores the retailer has opened this year in the Midwest, Co-Chairman Hank Meijer announced. The 190,000-square-foot store at 3649 Vermillion St. has created 300 new jobs and provides local residents a 24-hour shopping option, fresh produce and a full-service pharmacy just in time for the holiday season.

"Our team has worked very hard to get this supercenter ready and we're excited to bring a 24-hour shopping option to our new neighbors in Danville and its surrounding communities," Meijer said. "Whether it's a quick meal for the family, finding that perfect gift for someone on your holiday list or seeking answers about a nagging health concern, this supercenter represents our ongoing commitment to help provide a healthier, balanced lifestyle for anyone who steps through our door." 

With 22 stores spread throughout Illinois, the new supercenter is the latest in a $200 million investment this year that has included six new Meijer supercenters, extensive remodel projects for five additional stores in Michigan and Illinois, and a new distribution complex in Pleasant Prairie, Wis., just north of the Illinois border. The family-owned retailer, which opened its first store in 1934, now has 204 stores throughout the Midwest.

"I am very excited to welcome the brand new Meijer supercenter to Danville," Mayor Scott Eisenhauer said. "Meijer's opening not only brings new and expanded retail opportunities for our area shoppers, but also much-needed job creation. Beyond that, I am also thrilled about Meijer's long-standing history of being engaged in the local communities and the charitable contributions they make to those communities. Without a doubt, Danville residents, as well as our surrounding areas, are quite anxious for this week's grand opening, and I join them in their excitement."

Meijer will kick off its opening celebration on Thursday morning with a ribbon-cutting event inside the store, followed by remarks by Meijer officials and local dignitaries, along with the presentation of a check for $25,000 to the St. James Food Pantry, an organization that feeds on average of 400 families each month.  

The store will also feature grand opening events, beginning Sunday, that will include daily giveaways, family activities and the chance to be one of 10 winners in Meijer's Holiday Shopping Spree Sweepstakes. Notable events will include $50 Meijer Gift Card giveaways every 15 minutes with WSKL-FM radio personalities on Sunday, a cooking demonstration with celebrity chef Gale Gand on Nov. 15, and the Meijer Fall Festival on Nov. 17. The retailer will also celebrate the store opening by triple matching every $10 Simply Give donation made Nov. 15-16 at Danville and the surrounding Meijer stores in Champaign, Springfield, Normal and Urbana. For every $10 donation card purchase, Meijer will give $30 to its hunger relief program, resulting in a total $40 donation that will be used to restock the shelves of local food pantries.

In addition to the retailer's traditional grocery and merchandise offerings, garden center and 24-hour gas station, the new pharmacy will offer the company's free prescription program as well as clinical services and immunizations designed to promote family health. The prescription program includes leading 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 more than 16 million free prescriptions, saving Meijer customers more than $229 million. 

Meijer said the new supercenter will also offer more than 600 high quality varieties of fresh produce, a meat department that offers neighborhood butcher shop service with custom cuts of high quality meats and a bakery that carries fresh bread baked four times a day.

About Meijer: Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 204 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. 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, 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. Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.

SOURCE Meijer