GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer has set January 26 as the opening day for its first two Meijer Grocery stores, which will be located just outside Detroit in Orion Township and Macomb Township.

“By opening Meijer Grocery stores, we’re introducing a new way for our customers to shop that provides convenience, value and the great quality our customers have always come to expect from Meijer,” Meijer president and chief executive officer Rick Keyes said. “Our customers’ needs are always evolving, and we’re committed to meeting them where they are. That’s why we’re excited to share this new Meijer experience with the Orion and Macomb Township communities.”

Meijer Grocery is a new type of Meijer store focused on simplifying the customer shopping experience, the company said. The stores are designed with convenience and ease in mind. For example, parking will wrap around a singular corner entrance to maximize the number of parking spaces near the door. The stores will be 75,000 to 90,000 square feet each and will feature all the categories customers need for a weekly trip to restock the home, including:

• Produce and grocery.

• Meat counter with in-store meat cutters.

• Bakery equipped with in-store cake decorators.

• Full-service deli.

• Pharmacy.

• Health and beauty care.

• Baby, pets and consumables.

• Card and party and floral.

“Orion and Macomb Townships are already very familiar with our Meijer supercenters, but we believe they will benefit from the added convenience Meijer Grocery will bring to their neighborhoods,” said Don Sanderson, senior vice president of merchandising at Meijer. “We specifically chose to launch this new store format in southeast Michigan because we’re a Michigan company that has been serving customers in Metro Detroit for decades.”

Meijer opened its first Metro Detroit supercenter in Canton in 1974, and it now has more than 45 stores in the community, including two neighborhood markets — Woodward Corner and Rivertown Markets.

Sanderson added that the Meijer Grocery stores will feature local brands across its departments, staying true to the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting local businesses.

For example, the bakery sections will feature local favorites, including Ann Arbor-based Zingerman’s cinnamon rolls, banana breads, brownies and cakes, as well as pies from Achatz Handmade Pie Co. and artisan bread from Crispelli’s Bakery.

Additionally, the Meijer Grocery meat departments highlight southeast Michigan-made products from vendors, including Rinaldi Fresh Sausage, Dearborn Brand, Kowalski Sausage Co. and The Brinery. The new stores will also carry frozen pizza from the popular Detroit-style pizza chain Buddy’s Pizza.