Meijer cuts ribbon on Wooster superstore
Carol Gibson, a 30-year Meijer employee, is director of the new Wooster Meijer on Burbank Road. Included in the 159,000-square-foot supercenter is a pet department, full-service pharmacy, electronics, toys, sports, apparel and a grocery.
Back in spring 2022 when the first dirt was moved at the junction of Burbank and Smithville-Western roads, Carol Gibson was there to help mark the occasion.
A few months ago, she looked around the inside of the building that was soon to become the newest Meijer store and wondered how it was going to all come together.
Finally, just a few days before the store’s May 16 grand opening, Gibson knew the finish line was near, and yet, as director of the 159,000-square-foot supercenter, that she was just getting started.
“I’m super excited, but there’s also a sense of relief,” Gibson said after she had led a small group of visitors around the Wooster store while workers put the last touches on minor details and employees were busy filling shelves and taking care of last-minute tasks.
“If you’d seen us in February, you would have wondered how we were going to do it. So it’s really a sense of pride as well as relief — I just want the community to know that we are here to give them another opportunity to shop, and my excitement is seeing the different individuals who will come through our doors.”
Gibson said Meijer will offer one-stop shopping — the supercenter will feature groceries, a fresh-daily produce section, a bakery, meat and deli areas, and a floral area and garden center. Other departments include a full-service pharmacy, pets, electronics, toys, sports and apparel.
A Meijer Express gas station adjacent to the site opened late last month.
“I think shoppers will find that in Meijer, they will get one-stop shopping and be able to get everything they used to have to go to different stores for,” Gibson said. “Along with that, it will be a friendly environment — we will be here when you need us.”
The Wooster store shared opening day with the new Meijer in Warren, bringing the 89-year-old, Michigan-based, family-owned company’s number of stores in Ohio to 52.
“We’ve been so grateful for the warm welcome from area residents so far, and we look forward to providing them another option close to home for groceries and other everyday needs,” said Todd Anderson, vice president of the Ohio region for Meijer. “We know that value and convenience are key for our customers, and we look forward to being able to provide both in Warren and Wooster.”
Meijer opened its first store in Ohio in 1981 and has invested heavily in the state ever since. The retailer employs more than 11,000 team members statewide at stores and its distribution and manufacturing facilities in Tipp City.
After the tour Gibson and Shaun Morris of Meijer presented a $15,000 check to representatives of OHuddle, the local nonprofit that fosters relationships and mentorships between adults and students from local schools in a variety of ways.
Meijer also made $5,000 donations to People to People Ministries and the Hope Center.
The Wooster Meijer, located at 4845 Burbank Road in Wooster, is open every day from 6 a.m. to midnight. The pharmacy is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
There are still select job openings for the new Meijer supercenter. The hourly positions will be part- and full-time, and interested candidates can begin the hiring process by applying online at jobs.meijer.com/stores and searching the specific location. Details for hourly and full-time positions are outlined within the job postings.