Meijer store in Brimfield to open this Thursday

Akron Beacon Journal - 7/8/2020

After months of preparation, Meijer, one of the anchor tenants in the Maplecrest development in Brimfield, will open its doors on Thursday.

Store director Marco Gomez said 320 people are employed at the store.

Its layout is similar to the Stow location, but is a mirror of that store's layout, with grocery items at the south entrance, or to the right when facing the store, and home goods offered from the left entrance, or the door to the north.

Last month, Beth Borda, vice president of commercial development for DeHoff Development Co., which developed the site, said Meijer had planned to open in May, but its opening was delayed because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Gomez said the store wanted to take its time to make sure its opening was done properly.

"We just wanted to make sure our community would be safe and our team members would be safe," he said.

Menards had previously planned to open in August, Borda said then, but the home improvement company has not given an updated timeline. Meijer Express, a gas station associated with Meijer, opened May 7.

Meijer, based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has stores in Stow, Avon and Mentor. Another new store in Lorain also opens Thursday.

The Brimfield location is a full-service grocery store, including meat, fresh produce, a bakery, deli and pharmacy. It also offers pet supplies, home goods, toys and clothing for men, women and children.

A Great Clips franchise is located inside the store.

Apparel for local school districts, Field and Tallmadge, also is featured at the front of the store.

But the tie to the schools goes beyond the apparel. Gomez said the store recently donated $19,000 to Field. Another $6,000 was donated to the township's fire department and $4,000 to Brimfield Community Cupboard.

"It's what we're really about," he said. "That's something we really hang our hats on, giving back to the community."

He said he's already seeing excitement in the community about the store opening. Many potential customers who tried to shop Tuesday were given reusable shopping bags and were told to come back on Thursday.

"We're excited to be open to the community," Gomez said. "I think it's going to be a really great store. We're really all about service, creating that inviting and exciting shopping experience that you're not going to get at any other retailer."

-- Reporter Diane Smith can be reached at 330-298-1139 or dsmith@recordpub.com.

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