Peek Inside the New Meijer Grocery in Lake Orion, Opening Jan. 26
(Lara Mossa, Jan. 20, 2023)
ORION TOWNSHIP – “Customers don’t need us, we need them.” So says the mural above the employee counter at the newest Lake Orion area grocery store.
Founder Fred Meijer originally said these words decades ago, and the Grand Rapids-based company is planning to open two brand new Meijer Grocery stores on Thursday. One will be in Orion Township on Lapeer Road, and the other will be in Macomb Township. Both are the first of its kind, since the Meijer Grocery will vary from the supercenters and offer strictly groceries and pharmacy goods.
“These are built for convenience – all the groceries you need every day to kind of get in and get out. It’s a brand new format for us,” said Erin Cataldo, a Meijer spokeswoman.
The nearly 90,000-square-foot store in Orion Township will offer all the typical departments you would associate with a grocery store including produce; floral and cards; bakery; deli; butcher; wine, beer and liquor; frozen foods and canned products; baby necessities; a full pet department; health and beauty care; and a pharmacy with a drive thru.
The store is located where the old Kmart was demolished next to Planet Fitness. For several years, there has only been a Kroger in town.
“It means more options for our citizens,” said Orion Township Trustee Matt Pfeiffer. “The reality is we don’t have a lot of options in terms of grocery. This is a different kind of store being convenient, being near the downtown where a lot of our population center is and then being something that’s a little unique and special. It’s a game changer for our residents to have another great option to shop for food.”
Customers can check out at the four regular checkout counters; the 11 self-scan machines; or the shop and scan registers. There also are pickup and delivery services.
One of the highlights of the store are the local brands that will be available in the market. Among them are Blake’s Cider Mill products and Cook’s Dairy Farm ice cream. In addition, Buddy’s Pizza, which has locations in Ohio and Michigan will sell frozen pizzas and salad dressings. Prices range from $15.99 to $19.99.
A Lake Orion vendor, Sprout Bake, will sell products there as well. Lake Orion villagers may recognize Sprout Bake from the Cookies and Cream Ice Cream shop that serves up smiles and sweets in the warmer months of the year.
Sprout Bakes makes frozen batter for muffins and other baked goods in the flavors of pumpkin spice, lemon chia seed, chocolate 5-spice and double chocolate. Made with almond butter, sweet potato, applesauce and oat flour, among other ingredients, the frozen buckets sell for $10.85.
To highlight the company’s support for local groups, Meijer presented a $10,000 check to the Lake Orion area Village Food Pantry at a special sneak preview for the media and officials held at the store on Friday. The Village Food Pantry is a partnership between Woodside Bible Church and Canterbury Village. Meijer also will sell $10 Simply Gift cards that also will provide money for the cause.
In the Orion Township location, Meijer has hired about 180 full-time and part-time employees, said Mary Kimbrough, store director.
“We’re going to open up on January 26,th,” Kimbrough added. “And we’ll be bringing convenience and value to the community.”
The Lake Orion Meijer will be open from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. Learn more about the grocer at https://www.meijer.com/.