The company plans to begin construction in the spring of 2023 on a site between Beck Road and Frank Beck Chevrolet, according to Beeker. 

“We’re always excited to welcome new development that supports the needs of the City of Hillsdale and surrounding areas,” City Manager David Mackie said. “The addition of Meijer represents a sizable investment in commercial property and job creation.” 

The new grocery store will create as many as 300 jobs and draw shoppers to Hillsdale, Beeker said.

“It will bring people into the community that would normally not have come here, and they may see other businesses that intrigue them,” Beeker said. “That will drive some economic development.”

Meijer purchased 50 acres in Fayette Township, adjacent to Bullhead Lake, in 2017 to build a new location. The township and city signed an agreement that made the property a part of the City of Hillsdale and extended city services.

The agreement gave Meijer 10 years to begin construction on the new building, and in 2018, the city approved a plan to fund a new water line to service the building.

Meijer must now seek city building and construction permits, along with permits from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the Department of Transportation, and Department of Natural Resources, by the end of the year, according to Mackie.

“It is Meijer’s intent to have all their permits in place by the end of this calendar year and to start construction in the spring once the ground thaws,” Beeker said.

The arrival of the new store may also encourage the city to build its first roundabout. If constructed, it would be at the entrance of the store’s parking lot on M-99.

“It makes sense for several reasons. Roundabouts don’t stop traffic, they slow traffic down,” Beeker said. “There have been several accidents because of speeding, especially during inclement weather, and a roundabout would slow the traffic down, but it wouldn’t stop traffic, so you would never have traffic backups.” 

MDOT hasn’t made the final decision concerning the roundabout, but Beeker said he is hopeful one could be installed. 

“They used to be very foreign to people in the Midwest, but they’re not foreign anymore,” Beeker said. “I think it’s a very good alternative to a traffic light, and I think it’s a good location for one.”

Hillsdale Mayor Adam Stockford said in a July Facebook post that his first act as mayor was to approve the original agreement. 

“How fitting at the end of my first term, it is coming to fruition,” he said.

Beeker said that the new store represents a $20 million investment in the community. 

“It’s one of the larger developments we’ve had in the city in recent years,” he said. “It’s certainly an exciting development.”