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Meijer brings another option to shoppers in Round Lake Beach area

Business and civic leaders officially opened the new Meijer supercenter in Round Lake Beach, though the word had gotten out well in advance of Tuesday morning's ceremonial ribbon cutting.

By that time, the parking lot was full and customers already roamed the aisles of the 192,000-square-foot store, the first in Lake County for the fast-growing Michigan-based chain.

Top company executives joined local elected officials in touting the $20 million investment off Rollins Road west of Route 83.

“The enthusiasm from this community has been so tremendous,” said Doug Meijer, company chairman. “We want this to be a special experience for everybody.”

Mayor Rich Hill said the village looks forward to a long partnership.

“We're excited about everything Meijer has done already,” Hill said.

During the ceremony, store Director Dean Hutson distributed oversized checks of $20,000 for the Round Lake Beach Cultural & Civic Center and $25,000 to the Round Lake Area Unit District 116.

The money will be used for lighting and sound equipment at the village-owned center and upgrades to include a small video screen for the Round Lake High School football scoreboard. The sun-faded front will be refinished and Meijer's contribution will be noted on the back of the scoreboard.

“We need a lot of help. My hope is every other business sees that,” said Mike Mizwicki, the school's athletic director. “This scoreboard (improvement) is something we never would have been able to do on our own.”

Meijer on Tuesday simultaneously opened a supercenter in Flossmoor.

“We're opening nine stores this year and we hope to open seven to 10 stores each year,” company President Rick Keyes said after the ceremony.

The openings are part of a $400 million investment in new and remodeled stores, according to the company. Meijer has 228 supercenters and grocery stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky and Wisconsin, including 19 in the Chicago suburbs. About 280 people are employed at the Round Lake Beach store.

As in its other stores, Meijer offers a free prescription program focused on those most often filled for children and medications for diabetes and high cholesterol. The company also donates more than 7 percent of net profit to charitable organizations and works with local food pantries.

Updated apparel and an emphasis on fresh meat and produce are part of a new format for Meijer. A garden center and electronics also are part of the mix.

The Round Lake Beach store replaces a 1980s-era shopping center filled with vacancies including former Wal-Mart and Dominick's stores.

Meijer joins Wal-Mart, Jewel and Garden Fresh in town.

“We don't shy away from an area because there are a lot of competitors there,” Keyes said. “We're constantly looking in this area.”

Hill said the anticipated sales tax from Meijer allowed the village to proceed with millions of dollars in local road improvements a year earlier than planned.

@dhmickzawislak

  Chairman Doug Meijer says a few words at the Tuesday grand opening of the new Round Lake Beach Meijer supercenter. Mick Zawislak/mzawislak@dailyherald.com
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