Meijer Unveils Heritage Center

Midwestern superstore retailer Meijer is opening a Heritage Center to showcase its history, from founder Hendrik Meijer’s first arrival in the United States through the company’s most recent innovations and expansions.

“Our grandfather and dad took a risk when they started this company in the midst of the Great Depression,” Co-Chairman Doug Meijer said. “But bringing innovations to their customers helped give their grocery store a future. At Meijer, we have a deep reverence for our history and culture, and are pleased to share this with the community that truly led to the company’s success.”

To Inform and Inspire

The interactive Meijer Heritage Center is designed to inform and inspire team members and visitors through 12 exhibition areas, including a theater, a selection of personal letters to the Meijer family from team members, suppliers and customers, 30 team member video interviews, and an array of artifacts that tell the Meijer story from its earliest beginnings to the present.

The 5,000-square-foot museum is located on the Meijer Corporate Campus in Grand Rapids, Mich., in the Fred Meijer building. The museum was unveiled to team members this week at a ribbon-cutting event (pictured above). An open house for the public and media is scheduled for Sept. 10.

“We’re excited to be able to showcase the founding culture and history of Meijer from which our team has grown to be a leader in delivering the best value and innovation to our customers,” said Mark Meijer, a member of the company’s board of directors.

After this weekend’s event, the center will be open to the public for docent- and self-guided tours by appointment only.

Meijer operates 230 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.