By Jim Newell
Review Editor
It’s still in the early stages, but a new Meijer store could be going into the Lake Orion Plaza in the location that formerly housed Kmart.
Ed Boutrous, owner and founder of the Boutrous Companies in Lake Orion, owns and manages the Lake Orion Plaza. Boutrous did confirm to The Lake Orion Review that he has a contract with Meijer for the property.
Meijer submitted a special land use and site plan application, dated March 24, 2021, to Orion Township.
According to site plan documents, the main store of the development is proposed to be 89,962 square feet.
Meijer, Inc.’s corporate media division did not return requests for information and comment by Lake Orion Review press time.
Mejier would remove the Kmart building and construct a new building, Boutrous said.
“We’ve had a quite a bit of interest in (in that property) but this is certainly the best proposal that has come along. We’ve been carrying it empty for quite a while. So, we’re pleased that we waited until this materialized,” Boutrous said. “We did remodel the center a while back and, at the moment, is fully occupied. I think the existing tenants, from the initial feedback we’ve received, has been good.”
The Lake Orion Plaza is on the east side of Lapeer Road (M-24), south of Clarkston Road.
The Kmart property, 1025 S. Lapeer Rd., had been the largest property in the plaza at more than 89,000 square feet. Planet Fitness, at 29,500 square feet, moved into the location that formerly housed Hollywood Market in 2018.
The new development is proposed to focus heavily on groceries.
“It’s a new prototype. Quite a bit smaller than a normal store would be, with all the general merchandise and everything,” he said. “If it all comes to pass. I think it will be very nice and a great addition to the township. I think they’re kind of excited about it. You can’t get too excited about that empty Kmart, can you?”
The hope is to open the new Meijer store in 2022.
Meijer respects the township’s approval process and is working through that process, Boutrous said.
“There is an approval process that has to take place. They are pretty anxious to get going,” Boutrous said. “(Meijer) put together a very detailed proposal. They were very, very well-prepared and they’ve been working with the township.”
The Lake Orion Review will have updates on this development as they become available.
Meijer looks to potentially open a store at old Kmart location in the Lake Orion Plaza added by mmkelley on
View all posts by mmkelley →
Correction not Martha miss my Kmart… need full service store in this area. Nothing for 15 miles either way. Do it
Gotta have it. Miss Martha. Need more multi use grocery store
A new “prototype” Meijers! What a great idea for a great location.
I don’t understand why we would have another Meijers store when there is a large Meijers store I really like just north on M24 a few miles. I would probably continue to shop the Oxford store because of its great variety of products and the traffic is much improved since the road work is completed. According to the Lake Orion Review, the new Meijer store would serve as a “prototype” grocery store only.
It will be good to have that Empty store Opened again with a new tenent, Meijers is presently a Strong Thriving Business, although I don’t know if this new Location will have the same variety to offer to their customers, as the Auburn Hills & Oxford stores, wait and see, hopefully it will be very successful.
I would definitely welcome Meijers in that location! The traffic is so bad to get to Oxford… we need something more than Kroger’s!