What is Meijer, the company planning to open a grocery store in southwestern Illinois?

After the news that a 160,000-square-foot grocery and retail store is planning to open in the metro-east, you may be wondering: What exactly is Meijer, the company behind the supercenter?

Here’s what to know:

What is Meijer?

The company describes itself as a “family-owned, Midwestern retailer” that pioneered the supercenter concept. It is based in Michigan.

Meijer got started in 1934 during the Great Depression. In 1962, it opened the first ever supercenter, according to the company. (Walmart opened its first supercenter 26 years later, in 1988.)

Today, Meijer stores average between 150,000 and 250,000 square feet and stock more than 220,000 items.

How many stores and employees does it have?

Meijer employs about 70,000 people and operates more than 240 supercenters in six states: Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Wisconsin and Michigan, according to its website.

And Meijer has been expanding recently; it announced the opening of four new stores in Ohio, Michigan and Indiana this month.

Right now, the closest store to the St. Louis region is in Springfield.

The Glen Carbon expansion is planned at the 52-acre commercial district called Orchard Town Center. That development is at the former site of the Foucek tree farm on the southeast corner of the Plum Street and Governors’ Parkway intersection.

Meijer spokesman Frank Guglielmi confirmed the company has a contract with the developer who purchased the land in Glen Carbon, the Staenberg Group, but declined to comment further Thursday, citing the early stages of the process. Meijer still needs the village’s approval before it can start building.

Tim Lowe, senior vice president of leasing and development at the Staenberg Group, said Meijer is supposed to have its first meeting with Glen Carbon officials later this month.

What can I buy at Meijer?

In a Meijer store, you’ll find fresh produce and meat, apparel, pet supplies, toys and electronics, as well as a garden center and pharmacy.

This story was originally published May 12, 2022 at 1:27 PM.