Meijer gets approval to build store in Escanaba

ESCANABA — A Michigan based company has moved one step closer to opening its first location in the U.P.

The Escanaba Planning Commission approved site plans for the grocery store chain, Meijer, to construct a two hundred eight thousand square foot facility at its meeting Wednesday night. The $15 million dollar project is set to break ground sometime next year.

Along with the new grocery store and gas station, the city plans on making road improvements to help deal with the additional traffic.

“There’s an intersection that was brought up, 3rd (avenue) and N. 30th Street, that they are going to add an extra lane. That’s already in the works to help alleviate any traffic problems in the future when Meijer is built”, said Patrick Connor, a member of the Escanaba Planning Commission.

“We’ve had a number of pre-meetings and coordination meetings with utilities, streets, public works, and planning,” said Crisman Jones, a Meijer Real Estate Manager. “It’s been a great collaborative effort.”

Jones said that the Escanaba store will open in 2017.