Meijer's 11th location in northern Indiana is now open

Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Meijer opened a new 159,000-square-foot supercenter in northern Indiana on Thursday, furthering its Midwest store expansion plans.

The Elkhart store is located at 2500 Cassopolis Street and is the grocery retailer's 11th store in northern Indiana. Meijer, which has invested heavily in Indiana since opening its first store in 1994, now operates 42 stores throughout the state and employs more than 10,000 people statewide.

“This new store reinforces our ongoing commitment to serving the needs of local families, who are looking for more value and convenience,” said Executive Chairman Hank Meijer in a statement. “We are honored by the warm welcome and will be a strong community partner while providing the best shopping experience to customers in the Elkhart area.”

With more than 600 varieties of farm-fresh produce, 150 USDA-certified organic items, and a deli and meat department, the new Meijer store also offers a pharmacy and general merchandise items. The supercenter also includes expanded offerings in departments such as baby, pet, apparel and floral. Other added features include larger, height-adjustable changing tables for the added convenience and dignity of shoppers with disabilities and their caregivers, Meijer said in a statement.

The supercenter, like all Meijer stores, offers free access to Aira, an app-based service that provides live navigation assistance to blind and low-vision customers using the camera of their smartphones.

Prior to opening its doors, Meijer made $30,000 in donations to three local organizations: the Elkhart Education Foundation; Big Brothers Big Sisters of Elkhart County; and Faith Mission of Michiana.

“Meijer truly invests in the communities we serve, and we’re excited to be joining the Elkhart community,” said Meijer President & CEO Rick Keyes in a statement.

Meijer is a privately-owned and family-operated company founded in 1934. The grocer operates over 500 supercenters, neighborhood markets and express locations in the Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Wisconsin.