In 1934, during the depths of the Great Depression, Hendrik Meijer saw an opportunity to serve his community. The Dutch immigrant and local barber purchased $338.75 worth of merchandise on credit and, together with his 14-year-old son Fred, opened a small grocery store in Greenville, Michigan. Their commitment to quality products at fair prices resonated with neighbors struggling through tough economic times. This father-son duo didn't just build a business - they planted the seeds of what would become a retail revolutionary force.
Nearly three decades later, Hendrik and Fred transformed the industry by breaking down the barriers between selling groceries, clothing, and hardware. In June 1962, they opened "Thrifty Acres" in Grand Rapids, pioneering the American supercenter and the "one-stop shopping" concept that would later be emulated nationwide. What started as a humble barbershop venture has grown into more than 500 supercenters, grocery stores, neighborhood markets, and express locations across six states, employing over 70,000 team members. Yet despite this remarkable growth, Meijer remains privately owned and family-operated, guided by the simple philosophy that Fred Meijer lived by: "take care of your customers, team members, and community… and all of those will take care of you, just like a family." This enduring commitment has led Meijer to donate more than 6 percent of its net profit annually to strengthen the communities it serves.
