Peek Inside Woodward Corner, Meijer’s Latest Small-Format Store

Woodward Corner Market opened Jan. 29 in the Woodward Corners by Beaumont commercial development in Royal Oak, Mich., marking the first small-format store opened by Meijer in metropolitan Detroit. The Michigan-based chain also operates the small-format Bridge Street Market.

The 41,000-square-foot store offers a wide assortment of fresh and prepared foods as well as open-air elements, with 25-foot ceilings and a pedestrian-friendly design, near the Beaumont Hospital campus.

The market is focused on bringing customers a mix of fresh, local and convenient food at low prices, store manager Natalie Rubino said. The selection includes an estimated 2,000 local artisan items, including Daily Dozen Doughnuts, New York Bagel and Bath Savvy Soaps.

“We’ve been looking forward to offering our new, local grocery store for quite some time,” Rubino said. “Woodward Corner Market is unique, and our team has been hard at work to ensure we have the best products on our shelves to meet the community’s needs.”

The large, airy produce department includes some of the store’s six garage-style doors that open to an outdoor fresh produce and floral area in warmer months.

The store is focused on sustainability and does not offer single-use plastic or paper bags at checkout, instead offering only sustainable bag alternatives that are made to be reused up to 125 times.

“Meijer is committed to lessening our impact on the environment, and we saw an opportunity to reinforce that commitment by not offering traditional single-use plastic bags from day one at Woodward Corner Market,” Rubino said when the move to sustainable bags was announced. “We understand this is not a common practice, but we believe this is the right move for this community and our customers.”

The beer, liquor and wine departments are positioned at the front of the store and feature several locally produced favorites along with regional and national craft brands.

The market’s first day of business featured a ribbon-cutting event with comments from Rubino, Executive Chairman Hank Meijer, Royal Oak City Commissioner Patricia Paruch and Beaumont Health Chief Operating Officer Carolyn Wilson. The market also demonstrated its commitment to the community by awarding $5,000 donations to three community organizations: Yad Ezra, Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and the Royal Oak Youth Assistance.

“At Meijer, we are committed to being a good neighbor,” Hank Meijer said. “We are excited to join the innovative Woodward Corners by Beaumont commercial development and share our newest fresh market with the community.”

Woodward Corners focuses on fresh with offerings that include bakery items, fresh meat and deli offerings, plus Meijer and national brand products. It hosts a Great Lakes Coffee coffee shop that specializes in nitro brews; an extensive beer, wine and liquor counter; and an expansive international food aisle with eight ethnic backgrounds, including Middle Eastern, kosher, Hispanic, European and Asian foods.