By: Ashmar Mandou

The community of Melrose Park received a boost in its local economy as Meijer Marketplace, 950 W. North Ave., held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and opened its doors on Thursday, Aug. 25 to a crowd of eager costumers. “We want to offer the best of the one-stop shopping experience in a smaller store,” said Co-Chairman and CEO Hank Meijer. “It’s new for us, it’s new for Melrose Park and I love it. I hope our shoppers do too.”

As a response to the booming population of Mexican-Americans in Melrose Park, Meijer Marketplace, which is half the size of the Meijer supercenter, will offer more than four times the dedicated space to Hispanic food items and a diverse selection of health and beauty products. The store will also create 150 new jobs. “It’s hard to beat the experience of cutting a ribbon and welcoming everybody to a new store. Our team has worked hard to create a space that appeals to everyone,” said Meijer. At the Grand Opening ceremony, Meijer presented the Melrose Park community with a $25,000 donation to Our Lady of Mount Carmel to support youth and food bank programs. Also in attendance was Mayor Ronald M. Serpico of Melrose Park.