Meijer

[Veloise]

Is there any new info regarding the possible Acme Township store? Has everyone made nice and moving forward?

UP is not your oracle on this; the Traverse City Record-Eagle is.

I went to their website (er, record-eagle.com) and searched on the terms Meijer and Acme. Up came an editorial from late March. We've got highlights:

Editorial: It's time for Meijer to make amends in Acme

It won't be easy. The hurt and the anger won't be soon forgotten. But the best resolution of the six-year war between Meijer Inc. and Acme Township would be a ground-breaking ceremony for a new store there and a few heartfelt words from Meijer higher-ups. "We're sorry ..." would be a good start.

...

Instead of continuing to negotiate, Meijer and its allies -- inexplicably -- took aim at township government. The firm bankrolled a citizens group, spending $100,000 or so on a failed recall campaign, made illegal contributions to influence a ballot issue and filed so-called SLAPP suits against officials who stood in their way. It was a nasty and concerted campaign that eventually turned already-heated political divisions in the township toxic. As township Supervisor Wayne Kladder put it, Meijer's actions "tore our community apart." ...

Late last week, however, there was welcome talk that Meijer was ready to begin the process of mending fences and become a part of the community. Attorney Michael Dettmer, who represented the township officials, said all parties want the settlement made public. "Meijer and the Village wanted it to be transparent, and that was the least of the issues in negotiations," Dettmer said. ...

This is the time for Meijer to begin the long process of rebuilding the image it enjoyed as a valued and trusted part of the community.

[egrguy]

If UP isn't the oracle, then Veloise, I think you may be just that. Thanks for the information. Perhaps teh poor economy will help everyone get past the past dredgery involved in this situation.

[Veloise]

Hah. Google is my friend.

Can't find the article itself, but here's a PDF of Thurday's fromt page. (This link is valid until next Thursday.)

http://www.mlive.com/grpress/frontpage/pdfs/A1_Thursday.pdf

[tamias6]

This looks like a good sign that the Acme/Meijer saga will finally be put to rest. Not sure if Meijer would be willing to pursue a new store in Acme now as it would reopen old wounds. If they do I think they should opt for an exact copy of the Birch run store. It has a nice brick facade Acme was seeking from Meijer, plus decorative cornices and gable roofs on the entrances. Also the scant 156k sq ft. size would be less controversial than the 225k layout called for by the original proposal.

[Veloise]

This looks like a good sign that the Acme/Meijer saga will finally be put to rest. ...exact copy of the Birch run store. It has a nice brick facade Acme was seeking from Meijer, plus decorative cornices and gable roofs on the entrances. Also the scant 156k sq ft. size would be less controversial than the 225k layout called for by the original proposal.

If memory serves...the Twp requested sidewalk-type amenities, and the project included attached retail to make more of a shopping center. And there was an issue with the gas station...

[Veloise]

Now open in Gaylord.

Note the tasteful faux Bavarian motif, despite being a couple miles from the city and its design requirements.

Batting .500 on the landscape survivability.

Hey! Seems like the requirement of sidewalks was one of the major contested items in Acme Twp. But here they are. (The red area is the raised dots for vision-impaired users.)

[tamias6]

Now open in Gaylord.

Note the tasteful faux Bavarian motif, despite being a couple miles from the city and its design requirements.

Batting .500 on the landscape survivability.

Hey! Seems like the requirement of sidewalks was one of the major contested items in Acme Twp. But here they are. (The red area is the raised dots for vision-impaired users.)

Just submit an exact copy of this Meijer before the Acme city planners and Meijer would be set.

[egrguy]

It looks like they build that store in an empty field. Was there anything besides the Kohl's besides it? I wonder why it wasn't more centrally located to the city.

[Veloise]

It looks like they build that store in an empty field. Was there anything besides the Kohl's besides it? I wonder why it wasn't more centrally located to the city.

Kohl's and Office Max are across the state highway (to the south) of Fred. I took those shots from the gas station.

Probably because of empty large parcels, land assembly costs, contours, and existing gas stations. And perhaps they wanted to be on the Traverse City side of the highway; the east side is pretty well built up.

[egrguy]

Kohl's and Office Max are across the state highway (to the south) of Fred. I took those shots from the gas station.

Probably because of empty large parcels, land assembly costs, contours, and existing gas stations. And perhaps they wanted to be on the Traverse City side of the highway; the east side is pretty well built up.

That's too bad; I mean it looks nice, but I imagine the field looked nice without the sprawl there either.

[tamias6]

Meijer may be preparing for an end of the Big Box era.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi...0,1591495.story

According to this article Meijer is planning on building a new store in the dense Chicago inner 'burb of Niles. What makes this plan interesting is at only 102,000 sq. ft. the new store will only be half the size of a normal Meijer store. It will have a heavy focus on groceries and pharmacy. This is a new prototype that will allow Meijer to finally get into the dense urban cores. Also Meijer is anticipating that the bad economy and high gas prices are going to shunt Big Boxes in general.

[Veloise]

Meijer to open its first store in Detroit.

http://detnews.com/article/20090627/BIZ/90...n-Detroit-store

We've got highlights:

Meijer is in negotiations to open its first store in Detroit, at Woodward and Eight Mile next to the Michigan State Fairgrounds, to anchor the long-awaited Shoppes at Gateway Park development.

The opening of a Meijer would mark the return of a major grocer to the city -- Farmer Jack was the last big chain in Detroit, closing in 2007. City residents have long complained about the lack of grocers and shopping options; Detroit has no supercenters such as Wal-Mart or Target.

The 35-acre mall, which will offer "medium to upscale discount" shopping, will be Detroit's largest commercial real estate development in 50 years... The center also will include close to 40 smaller shops, each between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, and casual family dining restaurants, Schrott said. The mall is expected to open in 2011.

Two other general merchandise discounters, Marshalls and HomeGoods, have signed on to share the 40,000 square feet designed for the mall's secondary anchor...Meijer's space would measure close to 200,000 square feet. Together, the two anchors comprise more than 60 percent of the mall's 380,000 square feet in retail space.

The store would do "extremely well" at the proposed site because there are no other major general merchandise retailers or grocers nearby...

Edited June 30, 2009 by Veloise

[tamias6]

Meijer to open its first store in Detroit.

http://detnews.com/article/20090627/BIZ/90...n-Detroit-store

We've got highlights:

Meijer is in negotiations to open its first store in Detroit, at Woodward and Eight Mile next to the Michigan State Fairgrounds, to anchor the long-awaited Shoppes at Gateway Park development.

The opening of a Meijer would mark the return of a major grocer to the city -- Farmer Jack was the last big chain in Detroit, closing in 2007. City residents have long complained about the lack of grocers and shopping options; Detroit has no supercenters such as Wal-Mart or Target.

The 35-acre mall, which will offer "medium to upscale discount" shopping, will be Detroit's largest commercial real estate development in 50 years... The center also will include close to 40 smaller shops, each between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, and casual family dining restaurants, Schrott said. The mall is expected to open in 2011.

Two other general merchandise discounters, Marshalls and HomeGoods, have signed on to share the 40,000 square feet designed for the mall's secondary anchor...Meijer's space would measure close to 200,000 square feet. Together, the two anchors comprise more than 60 percent of the mall's 380,000 square feet in retail space.

The store would do "extremely well" at the proposed site because there are no other major general merchandise retailers or grocers nearby...

With no other big grocery chain in the Motor City to compete with, Meijer would do allot more than just well. They would enjoy a near monopoly position in Detroit esp. in food.

[fotoman311]

Stumbled across the Plainfield Meijer on Bing (Microsoft) maps Bird's Eye View.

Here, the new building looks complete and the old one is being demolished.

http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&...3&encType=1

However, if you rotate 90 CCW, the new Meijer lot is being cleared and the building has not appeared yet.

Rotate 90 CW and the new Meijer completely disappears, with only a parking lot where it now sits.

[Veloise]

Meijer to open its first store in Detroit.

http://detnews.com/article/20090627/BIZ/90...n-Detroit-store

...

You read it here ^^ first.

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michiga...o_open_its.html

[dubbs]

Heh--grocery-starved is right. I was just reading this extremely grim article on the same subject: http://www.guernicamag.com/spotlight/1182/...mong_the_ruins/

It's good to know they're finally getting something.

[John E]

It is actually right by the boarder of the city so they may get more business from Ferndale, Hazel Park and others driving up and down Eight Mile and/or Woodward Ave. than local Detroit citizens.

~John

[egrguy]

Meijer may be preparing for an end of the Big Box era.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi...0,1591495.story

According to this article Meijer is planning on building a new store in the dense Chicago inner 'burb of Niles. What makes this plan interesting is at only 102,000 sq. ft. the new store will only be half the size of a normal Meijer store. It will have a heavy focus on groceries and pharmacy. This is a new prototype that will allow Meijer to finally get into the dense urban cores. Also Meijer is anticipating that the bad economy and high gas prices are going to shunt Big Boxes in general.

That's great news, its about time made a bush to urban cores.

The success of Chicago opens up the Upper Midwest of Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota.

Meijer to open its first store in Detroit.

http://detnews.com/article/20090627/BIZ/90...n-Detroit-store

We've got highlights:

Meijer is in negotiations to open its first store in Detroit, at Woodward and Eight Mile next to the Michigan State Fairgrounds, to anchor the long-awaited Shoppes at Gateway Park development.

The opening of a Meijer would mark the return of a major grocer to the city -- Farmer Jack was the last big chain in Detroit, closing in 2007. City residents have long complained about the lack of grocers and shopping options; Detroit has no supercenters such as Wal-Mart or Target.

The 35-acre mall, which will offer "medium to upscale discount" shopping, will be Detroit's largest commercial real estate development in 50 years... The center also will include close to 40 smaller shops, each between 5,000 and 10,000 square feet, and casual family dining restaurants, Schrott said. The mall is expected to open in 2011.

Two other general merchandise discounters, Marshalls and HomeGoods, have signed on to share the 40,000 square feet designed for the mall's secondary anchor...Meijer's space would measure close to 200,000 square feet. Together, the two anchors comprise more than 60 percent of the mall's 380,000 square feet in retail space.

The store would do "extremely well" at the proposed site because there are no other major general merchandise retailers or grocers nearby...

Over two years without a grocery store? That's unheard of in every other city in the country. I really hope the store is successful.

Its exciting to see Meijer enter into two urban markets.

[Veloise]

^^I've always thought it highly ironic that the Meijer gas stations offer a coffee called "Motor City Tornado." Finally available in the eponymous jurisdiction (as soon as they build the store, that is).

[RegalTDP]

An article in the Free Press today has a quick rundown of all the new stores both Wal-Mart and Meijer plan to open all over the state:

Wal-Mart adds Michigan stores - Freep.com

The battle for Michigan has begun!

[jbr12]

I an assure you as soon as the store in Petoskey is built, the WalMart across the street will see a drastic decline in customers. Everyone I know is itching for the store to open and some people have already started driving to Gaylord instead of Petoskey to go to Meijer

[tamias6]

I an assure you as soon as the store in Petoskey is built, the WalMart across the street will see a drastic decline in customers. Everyone I know is itching for the store to open and some people have already started driving to Gaylord instead of Petoskey to go to Meijer

I've been to the new Ceder Springs store, which like the new Petosky store is Meijer's 156,000 sq. ft. layout. From what I've seen Wal-Mart and Meijer run neck and neck on general merchandise offerings. However Meijer is going to crush Wal-Mart when it comes to groceries as they have drawn heavily on Meijer @ Cascade's graphics program and and vast offerings.

[pcdoctor]

Anyone been over to Alpine lately?

Rumor has it that they have been clearing out some stock in the retail section. I don't know if they are switching out products, moving stuff or expanding a department somewhere. I heard this like a week ago though. Look over by the e4 department by where candles and stuff are/were. and it would go all the way to almost housewares area but not that far.

[blueradon]

I noticed some things are being moved around at the Greenville store, and they're redesigning the women's clothes department - produce had all their stuff moved around too so I'm not sure what's happening here.

[tamias6]

Anyone been over to Alpine lately?

Rumor has it that they have been clearing out some stock in the retail section. I don't know if they are switching out products, moving stuff or expanding a department somewhere. I heard this like a week ago though. Look over by the e4 department by where candles and stuff are/were. and it would go all the way to almost housewares area but not that far.

Was over at the alpine Meijer today. There were some changes. However its not e4. The area were the candles are has been freshened up with new aisle shelving with wood grain backgrounds and Meijer@ Cascade graphics. Looks quite nice. Also the overhead banners along the action alleys have been changed up to new ones. In addition the seasonal dept has been set up for the Christmas shopping season. Lastly there appears to be some new graphics appointing some displays in the center of the clothing area.