the story i thought i'd told

The other day I was looking back at old blogposts searching for the post where I talked about my infamous Meijer Quest, and when I couldn't find it, I realized that I had never told this very quirky and essential Susan story!

Here’s the deal…Mom took me to Meijer (pretty much the coolest grocery store ON THE PLANET!) as a kid (a shout out to store #43 in Saginaw, MI!) and schooled me in the ways of good deals and triple coupons. As I grew older, I came to appreciate the low prices and the convenience of filling my cart with everything from taco shells to toys and toilet seats. I lived away from “Meijerland” for a few years in Las Vegas and was surprised to find out that there were entire time zones that knew nothing about Meijer! Upon my return to the Midwest in 1995, my heart pounded at the sight of Meijer (my turf for 13 years on State Road 37) – I was truly home again.

Now, back in 2000, Beth had a boyfriend in Grand Rapids, MI, that she would often visit for the weekend. Left alone, I was a little jealous of her journey, and because I typically bought my groceries on the weekend, I decided to pair that with a little trip. I made a few trips to Meijer stores in Goshen, IN, and Defiance and Lima, OH, and began to think that it might be fun to visit every single one. Friends were fascinated by my strange obsession, and that led me to make a vow on New Year’s Eve of 2000 – I intended to shop at every Meijer grocery store in the nation. And I did… all 157 of them…in five states…all in one year!

With a plan in mind, my full-blown Meijer adventures began, and as luck would have it, Fort Wayne was centrally located. One Saturday morning I headed for Columbus, OH, with map in hand, and visited fifteen Meijers before returning home that day. Another time I made a pilgrimage with my sister to Grand Rapids, MI, the birthplace of Meijer. My parents went with me, my friends, and even a busload of my 8th graders and their parents joined me in my quest on the way to Washington, DC! Friends and family were amused and incredulous when they heard my stories, but in the end they were all rooting for me. I even had a map that family friend Arlis Hutter scored for me (she worked at the Tittabawassee Rd. store at the time) with all of the locations on it. After each trip, I put a check mark by all of the stores that I had visited that day.

Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, and Kentucky – no Meijer went unvisited, and by Thanksgiving Day of 2001, I had reached the end of my quest. It was sort of sad to see the whole thing come to an end. I loved the travel and the excitement of spotting another Meijer sign on the horizon. But, oh the conversation starter I have now!

The question that I always get is, did you buy something at every store? Why, yes, I did!  Sometimes I would just swoop in and buy a can of olives, but I was there. The absolute BEST Meijer is in Troy, OH, at least it was 8 years ago. It was very well-kept and well-stocked. The grossest one was in Adrian, MI. It was QUITE due for a makeover, and I followed the greeter (who had been giving out balloons at the door) out of the bathroom. She had skipped the whole hand-washing routine. Ewwww. The coolest and most interesting store was in Grand Rapids. I think that it was store #12. It was the very first Thrifty Acres, and Hendrik Meijer had built it in a way that if the whole thing flopped, he could sell it to a car dealership. Let's just say yogurt was right across from the shoes.  Makes sense, right? The only time I ever stayed overnight on this quest was when Beth and I took a weekend trip to Traverse City (ultimately to visit the Meijer there, but who doesn't love a trip to the Cherry Capital of Michigan?).

No two Meijers are exactly the same which made it all the more interesting. Michigan stores are all equipped with a bottle return and Kentucky stores have the liquor store out front with a separate entrance. It got to the point that I could predict the store number based on the look of the outside.

Now that I am out of Meijerland again, I miss it dearly. I make so many extra trips that would be unnecessary were there a Meijer in the vicinity. Those of you within 5, 15, or 50 miles of a Meijer, please know of my great jealousy!

Susan

Comments

[HappyGoMommy!]

I'm headed to the one on SR 37 this afternoon . . . just a mile from my home! I will think of you while I am getting my weekly groceries today!

-Amy

[Ashley Newell]

This is such a funny, but fascinating story! I've only been to Meijers in Indianapolis (where most of my family lives) and one in Merrillville, IN. I have never paid close attention to the store as I would only run in with my aunt to pick up a few quick items. Next time, I will take a better assessment of the store. In Northern Virginia, we recently starting getting Wegmans and it's my favorite grocery store!

[cindy tobey]

Your post really took me back. I remember Superman ice cream cones and riding Sandy the horse as my childhood highlights of trips to Meijer. :) You know I share your love of Meijer Susan...but wow! You visited them all?! Oh, and I wonder how many new ones have gone up since your quest. :) My latest favorite is the one in Gainsville Township in the G.R. area.

[Mom]

I remember, and I know you do too, the time we were telling Mrs. G. about your Meijer adventure and how you had visited EVERY Meijer store in existence at that time. Then she questioned, "Have you been to the one in Muskeegon?" Didn't we just say EVERY Meijer store. HaHaHa!
Should I send this post to Arlis?

[Joli]

I had never heard of Meijer before reading your blog, I will have to plan a visit to one if I ever go out East.

Where do you grocery shop here? The only 'nice' store we have found is Harmon's, but its pretty expensive.

[Lanna]

I've never been to Meijer, but if you're in the DC area (or elsewhere along the East Coast), you must check out Wegmans. I simply adore that place.

[ashley]

Ha, ha, ha! The one closest to me is full of sweatpant with flannel wearing, mullet sporting mouth breathers. We avoid it at all costs.

[Jill]

This blog bost brought back so many memories for me! I used to work in Properties at Meijer (at the corporate office) for 8 years before moving to Columbus, Ohio 1.5 years ago. I remodeled stores and implemented the new things that went into the stores all year long as a construction manager.

The store that has the yogurt across from the shoes??? Store #11. We used to call it Dirty Meijer. hahaha we had remodeled it since then and there is a rumor it will become a new store very soon.

I visited a lot of Meijer stores in my job there, I can't say I've been to all of them though. You deserve a What would Fred do bracelet or something (Fred Meijer is the owner). And Yes, the buyers that buy the merchandise at the home office really do have those bracelets.

My girls love riding the Sandy Pony (would you believe that a guy refurbishes Sandy Pony's for a living?). That's all he does is fix and paint the pony's at Meijer. Crazy eh?

I grew up in Saginaw as well and moved to Grand Rapids after college so that's weird that you mentioned those same two towns. My dad and grandma have gone grocery shopping EVERY sunday from 11am-1pm for the last 22 years rain or shine to the store on Gratiot Rd. in Saginaw.

Thanks for the nostalgia boost. You can never forget the smell of the bottle return room, the sticking of your shoes to the syrup on the floor, the bleep bleep bleep noise of the cash registers ringing, the carpet at some of them in the fashions departments that actually give you static cling when pushing a cart across them, and the funny old signage you see when walking into the ones built in the early nineties!

[Judy in Huntsville [al]]

been to one in kentucky somewhere - and LOVED it so much we went back a couple of times before we left....

[rae]

we had one in McHenry, Illinois, LOVED it!
I miss our Jewel/Osco too :)
hugs & ♥~
rae

[Amy Kline]

I love Meijer too although I must admit that when we lived in Michigan I didn't love Meijer's at first. I missed the little mom and pop type stores of my youth. However, in time I have come to appreciate the ability to buy a screwdriver and eggs, all in the same trip.

[Brandy J.]

I need to plan a trip to one of these grocery stores!

[Joni]

Woot, Meijer! But I must second the shout-out to Wegmans. I guess I am just destined to live only in areas with great grocery stores.

[Micha]

Susan - do they have Super Walmart in Utah? Same store - different name. Love that you can buy everything at one store in one trip. But I do find myself spending more than I originally planned.

[Sarah]

I'm lost in New England without the Thrifty Acres of my youth. I make a point to visit one every time I visit my family in Michigan and can't wait until my son is old enough to ride Sandy. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Also glad that you were able to make it to every single store. A good friend of mine had a blast on a similar quest to visit every Wegman's.

[Kim Kesti]

Um, better not mention Wal Mart to Susan, Micha. Eeek. In any case, I'm feeling kind of sad that I've never been to a Meijer. Must put that on my bucket list. LOL! Love you, Sus!

[Lyn]

We have a new one here in Marion, Indiana - Grant County - a green store - nice but I am disappointed it wasn't a larger store like the one in Muncie, Indiana.

Actually I have been applying for jobs at the new store.

For the most part it has groceries, a pharmacy, and just a small clothing section. Huge nice parking lot. Also a gas station and little store with that.

I find great deals there on groceries - but wish it had been built as a bigger store.

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