May 10, 2011: Meijer Invests More Than $20 Million In Southwest Michigan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:   Frank Guglielmi (734) 844-2781
frank.guglielmi@meijer.com

 

 

MEIJER INVESTS MORE THAN $20 MILLION IN SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN

 

Retailer Unveils New Store In Lincoln Township, Remodeled Store in Benton Harbor

 

 

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP, MI. (May 10, 2011) – A new Meijer supercenter in Lincoln Township, Mich., will open its doors on Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 7:00 a.m. following a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Meijer team members and town officials. This follows the recent completion of a top-to-bottom remodel of the Meijer in Benton Harbor. The announcement was made today by Hank Meijer, co-chairman and C.E.O. of the Grand Rapids-based retailer.

 

“This new store represents our continued commitment to slow, steady growth,” said Meijer, “In addition to bringing residents of Stevensville, Lincoln Township and surrounding communities a brand-new Meijer supercenter, we have taken many steps to ensure this new store has a reduced carbon footprint. Our customers expect high standards from us and our investment in southwest Michigan will ensure they continue to receive our very best.”

 

The new Lincoln Township Meijer will be LEED certified, which means it is consistent with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of “green” buildings from the United States Green Building Council (USGBC).

 

At 191,000 square feet, this new Meijer supercenter was designed to provide a state-of-the-art shopping environment and organized to make the shopping experience much easier.  To begin, the pharmacy is located at the front of the store with health and beauty care items, while greeting cards and floral have also been placed toward the store front to provide the convenience of one-stop gift buying.

 

Kitchen supplies and small appliances are located near the grocery aisles, while the baby section is complete with food, diapers, strollers and clothing – making it convenient for moms on the

go. Grocery aisles are wider and shelving units lower to provide more light and to create a welcoming atmosphere.  From a logistics perspective, the overall store layout allows product to move very quickly from the shipping area to the shelves, which provides a more effective and efficient flow of products.  The new Lincoln Township supercenter is located just north of Stevensville, Mich.

 

Meijer design and construction teams worked to meet the intent of LEED standards. Some of the “green” building standards for the new Lincoln Township Meijer include:

·         A substantial percentage of all construction waste has been diverted from landfills and recycled into usable building supplies.

·         This store will use 40% less water than that of a typical store through water conservation devices and fixtures.

·         The Meijer construction team used specialized materials to create a reflective roof, which reduces heat buildup.

·         The construction process included a strict focus on limiting the release of volatile organic compounds from building materials by selecting “green products.”

·         The store will use high-efficiency light fixtures and advanced heating and cooling systems to reduce energy consumption.

 

Meijer also has completed the remodeling of its Benton Harbor store, which first opened in 1980. The major remodel project, which was completed at the end of April, includes numerous enhancements both inside and outside the store such as interior lighting, heating, refrigeration, exterior lighting and lot maintenance.  Additionally, newer technology was utilized in key areas during the remodeling process which resulted in reduced energy usage and a more energy efficient store.

 

The new Lincoln Township Meijer store and the Benton Harbor remodel project represent an investment of more than $20 million into southwest Michigan. The Lincoln Township store is the first of two new Meijer stores to open this year along with 10 store remodels scheduled for 2011.  The new Meijer store remodeling projects alone represent more than $75 million benefiting communities throughout Michigan and Ohio.

                                                                               

About Meijer

 

Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 196 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. Meijer customers can find additional information on Meijer and shop for more at www.meijer.com.

 

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