Meijer purchases Christian Reformed Church headquarters in Grand Rapids for $7.35M

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Meijer Inc. plans to break ground on a project at the former headquarters of the Christian Reformed Church of North America on Grand Rapids’ southeast side. The Midwest grocery store chain purchased the property for $7.35 million.

The Grand Rapids Planning Commission approved Meijer’s plans in August to demolish the 130,000-square-foot building at 1700 28th St. SE and build a new gas station and convenience store.

The new location would take up about three acres of the 11-acre CRC property and replace Meijer’s current gas station located south of the property along Kalamazoo Avenue, bringing the total site to 17 acres.

The CRC headquarters were put up for sale in the fall of 2023 after the organization’s leaders cited ongoing infrastructure, maintenance issues and the desire for more flexible space after the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Meijer site plans, the proposed 5,600-square-foot, single-story convenience store and gas station will operate 24 hours a day.

Customers can expect a food preparation area with alcohol sales, a seating and retail area, a beer cave, two driveways, 22 parking spaces, four electric vehicle charging stations, and seven fuel dispensers.

Consistent with the operation of the existing convenience store at Kalamazoo Avenue SE, customers cannot access the store between midnight and 5 a.m., and items - except for alcoholic beverages - may be sold through the window.

Meijer officials told the city in August that applications for four future development plans are expected to be submitted in 2025.

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