Meijer Debuts New Store Format In Chicago Market; Niles Location To Feature Less Square Feet, Greater Emphasis On Grocery

Company Also Announces Plans To Build A Similar Store In Orland Park

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Jan 18, 2010, 12:18 ET

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovation has been the key to Meijer's success during the past 75 years, and it continues its focus on innovation with the opening of the company's first smaller format, grocery-focused store in the Chicago suburb of Niles.

The new Meijer in Niles, which opens after a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 19, is about half the size of most Meijer supercenters at 102,000 square feet. The store is grocery and pharmacy focused, while still providing some general merchandise offerings. The store is located at 9000 W. Golf Road, just east of I-294, and was built inside a formerly vacant retail facility. The Niles Meijer will be the 12th Meijer store in suburban Chicago.

The population of Niles, Illinois includes a diverse mix of cultures including Asian, Hispanic and Eastern European and the new Niles Meijer will feature many grocery items geared toward the diverse community that surrounds it.

"For several years, we have worked hard throughout the Midwest to offer specific grocery items that are relevant to the unique customer base in the communities we service," said Meijer President Mark Murray. "The Niles community is represented by a variety of cultures, and we are thrilled to be able to serve such a diverse community."

Meijer is also announcing plans to expand this new concept in the Chicago area by building a second grocery-focused store in Orland Park, Illinois. The Orland Park Meijer will be located off 157th Street in the Village of Orland Park. Construction of the planned store will begin in the coming weeks and includes a full renovation of a currently vacant retail site. The opening of the Orland Park Meijer is currently planned for later this year and will create up to 150 new jobs inside the store.

About Meijer

Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Michigan, based retailer that operates 191 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