Meijer purchases property in Brooklyn Park for potential Mega-Store. (Minneapolis: sales, coupons)

[mn55110]

Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune each reported last week that Grand Rapids, MI based retailer Meijer purchased land at the northeast corner of MN Highway 610 and Zane Avenue (Hennepin County Road 14) , next to Kwik Trip gas station for the possible construction of a 200,000 square foot superstore which would be larger than Super Target or Wal-Mart Supercenters.

Both articles went on to state that Meijer is also scouting potential sites in the suburbs of: Lakeville, Lake Elmo, and Vadnais Heights. The Brooklyn Park site is the only one they 've actually procured. Speaking of that site, Hy-Vee's begun construction of their new grocery store at the southwest corner of Highway 610 and Zane Avenue. Meijer just entered the Milwaukee area this past summer.

Another Grand Rapids based grocery retailer to enter the Twin Cities is Fresh Thyme Market which opened this fall in Bloomington at the corner of Penn Avenue and American Boulevard.

[Radical_Car]

Sweet, would love to have Meijer here and that Brooklyn Park location is close to where I live.

[Stanton1433]

This is great news. Over the past 10 years Meijer which is based in Michigan has slowly expanded out of Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky. 3 Stores are already in Wisconsin.
Meijer is vastly better than Walmart since Meijer puts a much greater emphasis and store space for Grocery. Plus like other grocery stores, 12-15% cheaper on average, they have a grocery flyer that comes out every week.
Target in my opinion has quality but the store has gotten more outdated. The overall signage and merchandisers do not look like they have been updated in over 25 years.

[Citykid3785]

What's interesting is not only will they be right across the road from the new Hy-vee, but they will also be in Target North's (HQ) backyard. In fact, at one point Target considered building a store on this land. But now, 4-6,000 target employees will drive by this new Meijer location each day!

I'll say this much, Cub and Rainbow have no place being in the grocery business. Having been to my share of other chains around the country, I've not been to any that are as consistently bad as these two. By bad, I'm referring to: not bagging groceries, high prices w/o coupons, lack of fresh, ready made items, ugly stores, nothing unique to draw you in, etc. When I visit other parts of the country, their market share leading grocer has the visual appeal of a Lunds, with the prices of a Super Target, while bagging groceries and featuring Starbucks. It's about time that Hy-vee/Meijer/Aldi squeeze Cub and Rainbow out for good.

[Meemur]

Please build in Iowa.
Please build in Iowa.
Please build in Iowa, too!

I'm from Ohio, and I miss Meijer. They would give HyVee a real run for their money, as well as Cub and Rainbow.

Those of you nearby -- Lucky!

[Stanton1433]

Originally Posted by Citykid3785

What's interesting is not only will they be right across the road from the new Hy-vee, but they will also be in Target North's (HQ) backyard. In fact, at one point Target considered building a store on this land. But now, 4-6,000 target employees will drive by this new Meijer location each day!

I'll say this much, Cub and Rainbow have no place being in the grocery business. Having been to my share of other chains around the country, I've not been to any that are as consistently bad as these two. By bad, I'm referring to: not bagging groceries, high prices w/o coupons, lack of fresh, ready made items, ugly stores, nothing unique to draw you in, etc. When I visit other parts of the country, their market share leading grocer has the visual appeal of a Lunds, with the prices of a Super Target, while bagging groceries and featuring Starbucks. It's about time that Hy-vee/Meijer/Aldi squeeze Cub and Rainbow out for good.

You're in luck. Meijer has a Starbucks in their stores. You have no idea how bad Wal-Mart is. I am a supplier for them and dealing with their corporate, I have not come across more of the meanest, nastiest people you would have to deal with. It is not uncommon to ask a question on email and get a response from them like "Are you stupid. I cannot believe you would ask me that!!" My mother worked for Kimberly Clark and she can vouch for this also. If there are other options like Meijer to shop at and get a better selection of higher quality food at the same price of Wal-Mart, why step in their store. Same goes for Sams Club.

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Meemur

Please build in Iowa.
Please build in Iowa.
Please build in Iowa, too!

I'm from Ohio, and I miss Meijer. They would give HyVee a real run for their money, as well as Cub and Rainbow.

Those of you nearby -- Lucky!

They need to build in the Plains states, as the selection and competition of grocery stores is very lacking. They would do well even in places like Omaha, Des Moines, St. Louis, or Kansas City.

[ellysbelly]

Happy to have additional options in Hy-vee and Meijer. All we need now is a Wegman's or a Harris Teeter and my life would be complete!

And I'll further confirm that the Walmart is absolutely HORRID to their suppliers, I previously worked in consumer packaged goods and they were both ridiculously demanding and mean-spirited while doing so.

I get that Lunds & Byerly's is supposed to be 'high end' but it's lacking in the fresh and 'house made' options that both Wegman's and Harris Teeter have (made to order salads, made to order sushi, fresh made bread, etc)-- additionally, their (L&B's) regular retail pricing is RIDICULOUS (though their sales are often excellent, especially when they have BOGOs, their meat pricing is absolutely insane, even when on sale)-- and I find that Kowalski's and Lakewinds, while having great selection is equally ridiculous in their pricing, but at least they utilize local farms, and have a plethora of grassfed and organic options, making their high prices more justifiable.

[Citykid3785]

I am currently a supplier to Target ironically, and, it's hit or miss I suppose. The hardest part of the relationship is dealing with extreme passive agressiveness.

But I agree that we are missing a cost effective, high selection, with lots of made to order stuff chains. Hy-vee will help a little in this area, but it's no Wegmens or Harris Teeter I agree with you there!