Meijer unveils new C-Store format in Grand Rapids

On Aug. 28, 2018, Meijer opened a newly-designed convenience store and gas station next to its Grand Rapids headquarters in Michigan. The 5,500 sq. ft. convenience store will be the first to include a separate full-service Starbucks. It also includes fresh produce and protein-based snacks, wraps, fruit, organic items and grab-and-go meals prepared locally by Superior Foods.

“We are proud to continue to roll out what we see as the future of convenience for our gas station patrons,” said Adam Whitney, VP of Gas Stations and Convenience Stores. “We believe our customers will appreciate the ease and accessibility that the new design offers and the expanded assortment of freshly-made options that reflects their desire for healthier snacks,” Whitney said.  

The new convenience store has a large seating area with free Wi-Fi and phone-charging stations with freshly-prepared foods such as sushi, hand-crafted pizzas, chicken tenders and locally-prepared donuts with a self-serve coffee station and fountain bar with cold-brew coffee, frozen coffee and F’real Shakes selections. It also has a “beer cave” featuring craft and national brews and a wine assortment.

In the coming months, Starbucks will open a full-service location, including a drive-thru service, a first for a Meijer stand-alone C-store.

The new gas station includes 18 fuel pumps—a 50-percent increase over the retailer’s previous gas station format. The location will also offer Tesla and electric car-charging stations later this year.

The location incorporates design elements from Meijer’s Cascade C-store that opened in 2016. Meijer currently operates more than 200 gas stations and C-stores across six states.