West Millbrook in Grand Rapids in Kent County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Thrifty Acres

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, July 3, 2021

1. Thrifty Acres Marker

Side 1

Inscription. In 1962, grocers Hendrik and Fred Meijer pioneered the combination of two popular retail models, discount department stores and supermarkets, in a single store. At this site, on June 5, they opened an 80,000 square-foot addition to the 20,000 square-foot Meijer Super Market they had built in 1958. Called Thrifty Acres, the new store was grounded in the expertise in food retailing the Meijer family had gained since Hendrik Meijer (1883-1964) opened a small grocery store next to his barber shop in Greenville in 1934. The family company, led by Hendrik and his son Fred (1919-2011), was operating seventeen supermarkets in western Michigan when it decided to create its first “self-service discount department store with the hometown touch.”

The opening of the Thrifty Acres on this site in 1962 marked the beginning of a new retail concept and sealed the legacy of Hendrik and Fred Meijer. The untried business model brought risk. The single line of check-outs for food and general merchandise worked. Leasing the nonfood departments to outside operators did not. There was inconsistency in stocking, pricing and assortment. Taking

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over the leased departments required unplanned investment in merchandise, and the new store was not an immediate success. Adding two other super stores in Muskegon and Holland increased the financial burden. But the five-inch reinforced concrete floors the Meijers used to make the big stores suitable for reuse as auto dealerships were never needed.

Erected 2013 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number S0729.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1962.

Location. 42° 54.739′ N, 85° 37.799′ W. Marker is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in Kent County. It is in West Millbrook. It is at the intersection of 28th Street Southeast and Kalamazoo Avenue Southeast, on the right when traveling east on 28th Street Southeast. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1540 28th St SE, Grand Rapids MI 49508, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Michigan.

It is also in the

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, July 3, 2021

2. Thrifty Acres Marker

Side 2

American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Benjamins-Spring House (approx. 1½ miles away); Harriet and Barney Burton (approx. 1.9 miles away); Calvin Theological Seminary and Calvin University (approx. 2½ miles away); Cantonment Anderson (approx. 2.6 miles away); St. Andrew's Cemetery (approx. 2.7 miles away); Ramona Park (approx. 2.7 miles away); Gerald R. Ford Boyhood Home / President Gerald R. Ford (approx. 2.9 miles away); May House (approx. 3.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Grand Rapids.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, July 3, 2021

3. Meijer

Picture of current Meijer taken from the marker of the original site.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, July 3, 2021

4. Thrifty Acres Marker

Marker under wooden arch from original store

Historic arches image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, July 3, 2021

5. Historic arches

Marker describing arch seen in picture 3

Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 2,617 times since then and 329 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 5, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.