Full History Of Meijer In Timeline From 1934

1934: Meijer's Founding

Hendrik Meijer, a Dutch immigrant, founded Meijer's as a supermarket chain in Greenville, Michigan in 1934.

1934: Early Innovations in Grocery Shopping

In 1934, Meijer was among the first stores to offer self-service shopping and shopping carts, introducing innovations to the grocery industry.

1942: Expansion Beyond Greenville

Meijer opened its second grocery store in Cedar Springs, Michigan in 1942, marking the beginning of its expansion.

1946: Continued Growth in Michigan

Meijer further expanded its presence in Michigan by opening a store in Ionia in 1946.

1949: Entry into Grand Rapids

Meijer opened its first store in Grand Rapids, Michigan on South Division Avenue in 1949, a significant step in its growth.

1962: First Thrifty Acres

In 1962, Meijer launched the first Thrifty Acres, becoming the first retailer in the US to combine a supermarket and a superstore under one roof. This marked the start of Meijer's concept of a grocery chain with added general merchandise.

1962: Pioneering the Supercenter Concept

Meijer introduced its modern supercenter format in 1962, combining grocery and department store shopping in a single large store in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

1962: The First Meijer Supercenter

Meijer opened its first supercenter, combining grocery and department store shopping, in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1962.

1964: Leadership Transition

Fred Meijer assumed leadership of the company following the death of his father, Hendrik Meijer, in 1964.

1966: Expansion into Mid-Michigan

Meijer expanded its reach by opening its first store in Mid-Michigan, specifically in Delta Charter Township, in 1966.

1972: Entry into Flint Market

In 1972, Meijer marked its entry into the Flint market with a store on Pierson Road in Mount Morris Township, Michigan. This location included a balcony with service tenants such as a barber shop and nail salon.

1972: Entering Southeast Michigan

Meijer made its foray into Southeast Michigan with the opening of a store in Ypsilanti in 1972.

1974: First Store in Metro Detroit

Meijer opened its first store in Metro Detroit, located in Canton, Michigan, in 1974, expanding its presence in a major metropolitan area.

1977: Expansion into Northern Michigan

Meijer continued its expansion northward with the opening of a store in Traverse City, Michigan in 1977.

1980: Spaar Pharmacy Chain Launched

In 1980, Meijer ventured into the discount pharmacy market with the launch of Spaar, opening four stores in former Meijer supermarket locations.

1981: Meijer Square Stores Launched

In 1981, Meijer introduced Meijer Square, a discount department store concept without a full grocery section. The company acquired 14 Twin Fair stores in Ohio and opened two new Meijer Square stores in Michigan.

1982: Casual Court Renamed Tansy

In 1982, Meijer renamed its women's clothing chain, Casual Court, to Tansy.

1985: Walmart's Hypermarket Struggles

In 1985, Forbes magazine reported that Walmart's attempts to establish hypermarkets were unsuccessful due to their lack of understanding of the grocery business.

1986: Renaming to Meijer

The company's Thrifty Acres stores were officially renamed Meijer in 1986.

1987: Walmart's Hypermart USA Launch

Walmart launched its Hypermart USA concept in 1987, but only opened four stores before discontinuing the concept in 1990.

1988: Sale of Sagebrush Chain

Meijer sold its casual wear chain, Sagebrush, in 1988, marking a shift away from specialty clothing stores.

1989: Curved Wall of Windows

Between 1989 and 1993, Meijer stores were built with a distinctive curved wall of windows that ran along the area between the entrances. This design was featured in many early Ohio locations and the Midland, Michigan store.

1990: Meijer's Emphasis on Food Quality

Forbes Magazine highlighted Meijer's understanding of the importance of the food business, particularly the quality of produce, in contrast to Walmart's struggles in this area.

1992: First SourceClub Opens

Meijer's first foray into the warehouse club market came in 1992 with the opening of SourceClub.

1993: Curved Wall of Windows

Between 1989 and 1993, Meijer stores were built with a distinctive curved wall of windows that ran along the area between the entrances. This design was featured in many early Ohio locations and the Midland, Michigan store.

April 19, 1994: Expansion into Indiana

Meijer opened its first store in Indiana on April 19, 1994, located on Grape Road in Mishawaka.

1994: SourceClub Stores Close

Facing stiff competition, Meijer closed all seven of its SourceClub warehouse club stores in 1994.

1994: Expansion into Indiana

In 1994, Meijer introduced a "whimsical" design prototype during its expansion into Indiana. This design featured different shapes and roofing designs, including a notable yellow pineapple made from yellow ceramic brick and glass blocks.

April 4, 1995: Entry into Illinois

Meijer expanded into Illinois with the opening of its first store in Champaign on April 4, 1995.

1995: Expansion into Illinois

In 1995, Meijer introduced a new store prototype featuring a large translucent wall above the grand concourse facing the registers, allowing natural light to filter into the area. This design was part of their expansion into Illinois.

May 1996: Return to Cincinnati and Kentucky

Meijer made a comeback in Cincinnati, Ohio, and entered the Kentucky market in May 1996, capitalizing on the closures of Hills and Ames stores in those regions.

1996: Reentry into Kentucky

In 1996, Meijer reentered the Kentucky market with a store design that included a large translucent wall above the grand concourse facing the registers, allowing natural light to filter into the area. The design also featured grey concrete panels and silver framing on windows and doors.

1996: Expansion into Kentucky and Re-entry into Ohio

Meijer opened its first regular Kentucky store in Florence in 1996, along with four stores in Ohio, marking the chain's return to that state.

August 5, 1997: Presidential Prototype

On August 5, 1997, Meijer debuted a new store prototype called the Presidential prototype at its Fort Gratiot Township, Michigan location. This design moved the Meijer logo to the center of the building and later introduced the Meijer Fresh logo.

August 1997: First Store in Northwest Indiana

Meijer opened its first store in Northwest Indiana in August 1997, located in Michigan City.

1997: Further Expansion in Kentucky

Meijer opened two more stores in Kentucky in 1997, one in Lexington and one in Louisville.

August 4, 1998: Merrillville Store Opening

Meijer opened a store in Merrillville, Indiana on August 4, 1998, expanding its presence in Northwest Indiana.

1998: Expansion in the Louisville Area

Meijer opened three new stores in the Louisville, Kentucky area in 1998, continuing its expansion in the region.

April 20, 1999: Highland, Indiana Store Opening

Meijer opened a store in Highland, Indiana on April 20, 1999.

August 3, 1999: Entry into the Chicago Region

Meijer made its entry into the Chicago region with the opening of a store in Bolingbrook, Illinois on August 3, 1999.

2000: Village Square Prototype

In 2000, Meijer replaced the Presidential prototype with the Village Square prototype, which featured fake storefronts across the front of the building and a barn-like section for the Meijer logo.

2000: Expansion in Illinois

Three new Meijer stores opened in Illinois in 2000, located in Aurora, St. Charles, and Springfield.

2001: Civil Rights Violation Settlement

In 2001, Meijer was sued by the federal government for firing Debra Kerkstra due to her refusal to work on Sundays because of religious convictions. Meijer settled the case by paying $22,000 and agreeing to implement procedures to prevent similar incidents.

May 2002: Second Bolingbrook Store

Meijer opened a second store in Bolingbrook, Illinois in May 2002, three years after opening its first store in the city.

April 2003: New Advertising Agency

Meijer selected DeVito/Verdi, a New York-based advertising agency, to handle its $25 million account in April 2003.

2003: Initial Layoffs and Speculation

Meijer laid off 350 people from corporate offices, distribution centers, and field offices in late 2003, leading to speculation about the company's financial performance.

January 2004: Significant Layoffs

In January 2004, Meijer laid off 1,896 employees and managerial staff, a move attributed to increasing competition and a potential loss of profitability.

2005: Expansion Plan

Despite cutbacks, Meijer announced an expansion plan in 2005, aiming to increase its store count in Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio.

2006: Donation to Calvin College

Meijer donated funds to Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 2006 to establish the paid position of the Frederik Meijer Chair of Dutch Language and Culture, promoting interest in Dutch heritage.

2006: Outsourcing IT Positions

Meijer outsourced 81 information technology positions to India in 2006 as part of its cost-cutting measures.

February 2007: Recall Effort in Acme Township

In February 2007, Meijer was involved in an effort to recall elected officials in Acme Township, Grand Traverse County, due to their reluctance to allow a new store. Meijer hired a PR firm to orchestrate the recall effort.

May 2007: First LEED-Certified Store

Meijer opened its first LEED-certified store in Allen Park, Michigan in May 2007, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability.

July 2007: Restructuring Management Positions

Meijer announced a restructuring of its Team Leader management positions in July 2007, citing the need to adapt to changing product lines and customer demands.

August 2007: Management Layoffs

Meijer laid off approximately 500 managers in August 2007, offering severance packages to those affected and reassigning others within the company.

2008: HRC Corporate Equality Index Score

In 2008, Meijer scored 0% on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, a measure of how companies treat LGBT employees, consumers, and investors. Meijer was one of only three companies to receive a score of 0.

2009: Improvement in HRC Score

In 2009, Meijer improved its score on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index after amending its nondiscrimination policy to include sexual orientation.

2009: Meijer Marketplace Launch

In 2009, Meijer announced a new concept in the Chicago region called Meijer Marketplace, featuring smaller stores focused on groceries and pharmacy.

2010: Meijer Marketplace Expansion

Two Meijer Marketplace stores were opened in Niles and Orland Park in 2010.

November 25, 2011: Death of Frederik Meijer

Frederik Meijer, founder of the Meijer chain, died at the age of 91 on November 25, 2011.

2011: Meijer Marketplace Expansion

A Meijer Marketplace store opened in Melrose Park in 2011.

2012: Meijer Marketplace Expansion

A Meijer Marketplace store opened in Berwyn in 2012.

July 25, 2013: First Meijer Store in Detroit

Meijer opened its first store within the city of Detroit on July 25, 2013, at the Gateway Marketplace development.

2013: 200th Meijer Supercenter Opens

In 2013, Meijer celebrated a milestone by opening its 200th supercenter in Swartz Creek, Michigan.

2013: Meijer Ranked Among Top Private Companies

Meijer was ranked No. 19 on Forbes' list of the top 20 Private Companies in 2013, reflecting its size and success.

April 2014: First Fresh Thyme Store Opens

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, an organic food supermarket chain, opened its first store in Mount Prospect, Illinois, in April 2014.

2014: Early Adoption of Apple Pay and CurrentC

In 2014, Meijer became an early adopter of mobile payment systems by accepting both Apple Pay and CurrentC at its stores and gas stations.

2014: Southern Expansion and Tesla Partnership

In 2014, Meijer expanded its footprint southward by opening a store in Bowling Green, Kentucky. The store's parking lot also features a Tesla supercharger.

March 2015: Acquisition of Memorial Mall

Meijer purchased the largely vacant Memorial Mall in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, in March 2015, signaling plans for redevelopment.

June 11, 2015: Second Detroit Meijer Opens

On June 11, 2015, Meijer opened its second store within the city of Detroit at the site of the former Redford High School.

June 2015: Expansion into Wisconsin

Meijer opened its first locations in Wisconsin in June 2015, expanding its reach into a new state.

November 2015: Grand Opening in Acme Township

In November 2015, Meijer opened a new store in Acme Township, Grand Traverse County, after a prolonged effort to recall local officials. Thousands attended the long-awaited grand opening.

June 18, 2016: Meijer Marketplace Closure

On June 18, 2016, the Meijer Marketplace store in Niles closed.

2016: Further Improvement in HRC Score

By 2016, Meijer had increased its score on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index to 85%, matching similar scores to its retail and grocery rivals.

June 17, 2017: Meijer Marketplace Closures

On June 17, 2017, two Meijer Marketplace locations, Melrose Park and Berwyn, closed. The Berwyn store space was later occupied by Tony's Fresh Market in 2018.

2017: Expansion into Northeastern Wisconsin and Upper Peninsula

In 2017, Meijer expanded its presence in Wisconsin by opening stores in Howard and Grand Chute, serving the Green Bay and Appleton areas. The company also opened its first stores in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, with locations in Escanaba and Sault Ste. Marie.

2018: Bridge Street Market Opens

In 2018, Meijer launched a new concept grocery store, Bridge Street Market, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, spanning 37,000 square feet.

2018: Continued Upper Peninsula Expansion

Meijer continued its expansion in Michigan's Upper Peninsula in 2018, adding a third location in Marquette.

April 2019: New Store Replaces Memorial Mall

After demolishing much of the existing structure, Meijer opened a new store in April 2019 at the former Memorial Mall site in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

2019: Expansion into Cleveland-Akron Market

In 2019, Meijer entered the Cleveland-Akron market, opening stores in Stow, Mentor, and Avon, Ohio.

2020: Ranked Among Top Retailers

By 2020, Meijer was ranked the 21st-largest retailer in the United States by revenue, according to Forbes.

2020: Perfect HRC Score

In 2020, Meijer achieved a perfect score of 100% on the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index, joining 680 major U.S. businesses with the same score.

2020: Youngstown Area Expansion

Meijer expanded its presence in the Youngstown, Ohio area in 2020, with the opening of stores in Boardman and Austintown.

2020: Expansion of Concept Grocery Stores

Meijer opened two more concept grocery stores in 2020: Woodward Corner Market in Royal Oak, Michigan, and Capital City Market in Lansing, Michigan.

2021: Rivertown Market Opens

Meijer continued to expand its concept grocery store footprint with the opening of Rivertown Market in Detroit in 2021.

2021: Fresh Thyme Offers Meijer Products

The organic food supermarket chain Fresh Thyme began offering a wide selection of Meijer-branded products in 2021, suggesting a closer relationship between the two companies.

January 26, 2023: Meijer Grocery Launches

Meijer introduced its Meijer Grocery concept, a standard-sized grocery store, on January 26, 2023, with the opening of two locations in Lake Orion and Macomb Township, Michigan.

May 25, 2023: Detroit Tigers Jersey Patch Partner

The Detroit Tigers announced on May 25, 2023, that Meijer had become their official jersey patch partner.

January 2024: Fresh Thyme Reaches 70 Stores

By January 2024, Fresh Thyme had grown to 70 stores across 10 Midwestern states.

2024: Fairfax Market to Open

Meijer plans to open another concept grocery store, Fairfax Market, in Cleveland in 2024.

History of Meijer in Timeline