Meijer opens small concept store in Chicago

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.— Meijer announced that it is opening a new concept store in the Chicago suburb of Melrose park that will provide a tailored grocery offering and a broad variety of general merchandise.

Called Meijer Marketplace, the new store will be 96,000 sq. ft., about half the size of Meijer's largest supercenters.

"Meijer Marketplace is a dramatic step for us as we work toward bringing everything that's great about Meijer to a more diverse group of customers," said Hank Meijer, co-chairman and CEO of the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer. "The Chicago market continues to be a very important growth area for us, and our new Meijer Marketplace concept will bring yet another unique offering to our Chicago-area customers."

Meijer said its grocery offering will include a focus on Hispanic and Italian foods to better serve the ethnically-diverse community nearby.

In addition to grocery, Meijer marketplace will offer a full-service pharmacy offering a variety of national and Meijer brand health and beauty products, the company reported.

General merchandise departments will include electronics, seasonal items, toys, sporting goods and a pet department, with numerous national brand products throughout the aisles, Meijer reported. The store will maintain a flexible layout that allows Meijer planners to bring in new items based on customer feedback.

Chicago has become a hotbed for retail activity, with Walmart breaking ground on the first of its Chicago-area stores and CityTarget opening recently at the Sullivan center. Though Meijer should expect some competition from Walmart and Target, its location of Meijer Marketplace in Melrose Park is far enough away from each retailer that it can cement its place as the go-to destination in that community.