Meijer to invest $50M in supercenters

Meijer has announced that it will invest nearly $50 million to remodel and expand four supercenters in Ohio, bucking a trend set by Walmart and other retailers of focusing on smaller stores.

Work on the four Dayton-area Meijer stores will begin this month and be completed in multiple phases so the stores can remain open during the construction process.

The project is slated to be finished later in 2015 and will provide each store with a new facade, remodeled gas station and drive-thru pharmacy.

The remodeled supercenters will also have enhanced floor plans to allow for expanded selections in departments throughout the store.



The remodel project will allow for wider aisles and redesigned departments in all of the stores, which will feature expanded selections of national and specialty brands. The new pharmacies will be relocated near the front of the stores. Health and beauty care will feature prestige skincare and vitamin brands, and a new baby center will provide an updated shopping experience.



The expanded apparel department will feature 12-ft.-high walls and specialty lighting with updated fitting rooms. Other upgrades at each of the four stores will include:



All stores will be remodeled to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and include exterior lighting and parking lot upgrades. Additionally, the introduction of newer technology in key areas during the remodel process results in reduced energy usage and a more energy-efficient store.

Retailers such as Walmart and Whole Foods have been forgoing the supercenter concept and building smaller stores as shoppers buy more online and drive less.