Here we go: Meijer to open Alliance, North Canton stores

For over a year, Alliance and North Canton residents have watched as Meijer built supercenters in their cities.

As of 6 a.m. Tuesday, they will be able to shop there.

Meijer officials will welcome shoppers into their new stores, expanding the company's footprint in Stark County. The two stores join one in Jackson Township that opened in 2022.

Before you go to Meijer: Follow these steps to save at the new Alliance, North Canton stores

"It kind of reminds me of the story of 'Field of Dreams.' If you build it, you know they will come," said North Canton Mayor Stephan Wilder.

Members of the local media, city and business leaders and several nonprofits were given a sneak preview of both stores on May 8. During the first of the events, North Canton staff lined up and took part in a pep rally of sorts to welcome their visitors. Employees Christian Fatica and Jeff Herdlick took turns shouting "Here we go, North Canton, here we go!" The crowd of staff in their Meijer T-shirts shouted the phrase back several times.

Here are five things to know about the new Meijer stores:

1. Meijer stores are open early, close late

Meijer stores open at 6 a.m. and close at midnight daily.

Both stores have numerous checkouts, including two sets of self-checkouts, and customer service is across the aisle.

The pharmacy hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

2. Shoppers should expect a light and airy experience

From groceries to fashion, and in between, all Meijer supercenters are setup to be a one-stop shopping experience.

You'll feel that the minute you walk into the stores.

Both stores have groceries, bakery, deli, a pharmacy and large departments for fashion, home supplies, toys and pets. Meijer's exclusive Purple Cow Ice Cream is showcased in the frozen foods area.

Shoppers also will notice natural light cascading into atriums at the entrances and extra-high ceilings. The aisles are wide and uncluttered, and well-lit. The bakery and deli areas have an ambience, giving off a cafe feel. Signage is contemporary.

Meijer honors its own history, and pays tribute to the histories of Alliance and North Canton with displays in the front of the store. For example, Thrifty Acres − a throwback to the family-owned company's first supercenter − is stamped on walls.

"We already really feel a part of (the community)," said Sheila Dowgiert, store director at the North Canton Meijer store. "Everybody is excited. We're excited to be able to open our doors and welcome in those first customers."

Patrick Hughes runs the Alliance store.

3. Meijer likes to be active in the community, supporting local causes

Similar to other retailers, Meijer officials want to be active in the communities they serve, and the new arrivals already have helped several local nonprofits. Meijer donated a total of $50,000 to four organizations in the Alliance and North Canton areas.

The organizations receiving funds were Clothed in Righteousness in Alliance; Legacy of Honor near Louisville; Houston's Lift Off in Canton; and Local Hope: The Jackie Davison Foundation in Jackson Township. Each received at least $10,000.

Local Hope board member Jackie Monea said Meijer's $15,000 donation is the largest they've ever received. The nonprofit helps women struggling with cancer and other life-threatening medical issues.

"This donation means there are so many more women that we can help in the community," a teary-eyed Monea said.

Similarly, Clothed in Righteousness co-founder Eva Slagle said Meijer's $12,500 donation is the most they've received. The ministry helps homeless and unsheltered men and women in the Alliance with meals, clothes and any supplies they need.

"This (donation) will get us through the dry months because in the summer donations usually drop off and people aren't serving meals as much," Slagle said. "This is awesome."

Through Meijer's Simply Give program, the store has partnered with Alliance Community Pantry and North Canton Cares Pantry. The campaign encourages customers to buy $10 donation cards, with Meijer matching the amount. The pantries then use the cards at Meijer.

4. Officials in both cities see the stores as major economic boosts

Michigan-based Meijer has more than 270 supercenters in six U.S. states, with 55 in Ohio. It was founded by Hendrik Meijer in 1934, and remains a family operation.

Meijer opened its first store in Ohio in 1981.

In Alliance and North Canton, the nearly 160,000-square-foot stores have replaced empty or nearly empty retail sites, and city officials there hope they provide a major economic boost.

The North Canton store, at 1505 N. Main St., was built on the site of a former Kmart that closed in 2020.

"It's just going to bring jobs into the community, property taxes for our schools and income taxes to support our services," Wilder said. "Most of all, I think it gives us another opportunity for our residents and visitors to shop on this side of (Interstate) 77."

He added Meijer spent $30 million on the project and hired more than 300 people at the North Canton store.

Wilder also stressed what the North Canton store has done to lure business to the site. For example, Papa Bear's Italian Restaurant, Wendy's, Chik-Fil-A and 7 Brew Coffee will be opening on land surrounding the store.

"That's going to be a robust and vibrant area," Wilder said.

In Alliance, the Meijer store at 2500 W. State St. has replaced the former Carnation City Mall. For decades, the mall had been a retail mecca but it had fallen on hard times and had few tenants left before it closed. It later was demolished.

"We're very excited about what Meijer is doing and they're taking family shopping to a whole new level," Alliance Mayor Andy Grove said. "We're happy to have them join our family in Alliance."

Rick Baxter, president of Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce, said he anticipates the Alliance Meijer store will attract shoppers living in a 15- to 20-mile radius, including those in western Columbiana and southwestern Mahoning counties.

"I always like to use the example of go to Texas Roadhouse on a weekend here. Look, especially in the wintertime, you look at all of the school jackets there − Waterloo, Southeast, Minerva and Carrollton. Even Louisville. A lot of people come here because we're not quite as busy," Baxter said.

The Alliance store has about 350 employees.

5. For a penny, you can ride Sandy the pony

At every Meijer supercenter, there is a mechanical pony ride named Sandy. For a shiny penny, children of all ages can ride it.

According to company officials, Sandy became a part of the Meijer culture on June 5, 1962, with the opening of Thrifty Acres, the first Meijer supercenter. The late Fred Meijer, the chain's former chairman, was inspired by a supermarket in Nebraska that offered 10-cent pony rides, they said.

Meijer charged a penny for the ride, symbolizing the company's affordable prices.

The ride is still a penny today.

Enjoy.

"It's beautiful," Baxter said.

Reach Benjamin Duer at 330-580-8567 or ben.duer@cantonrep.com. On X (formerly Twitter): @bduerREP.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Meijer stores in Alliance, North Canton opening this week