Regional supercenter operator Meijer Inc. has moved into its sixth state with the opening of its first two Wisconsin stores on Tuesday. The 192,000-square-foot stores, located in Grafton and Kenosha, are built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and will be open 24 hours a day. 

MILWAUKEE — —  Regional supercenter operator Meijer Inc. has moved into its sixth state with the opening of its first two Wisconsin stores on Tuesday. The 192,000-square-foot stores, located in Grafton and Kenosha, are built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and will be open 24 hours a day.

 Regional supercenter operator Meijer Inc. has moved into its sixth state with the opening of its first two Wisconsin stores on Tuesday. The 192,000-square-foot stores, located in Grafton and Kenosha, are built to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards and will be open 24 hours a day.

 Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer now operates 219 stores in six states.

"We are proud to open our doors on this first historic day in Wisconsin," cochairman Hank Meijer said. "Since announcing our intention more than two years ago, we’ve done our best to understand the Wisconsin market and truly become a part of the community. We think our neighbors in southeastern Wisconsin will be really pleased with the fresh options they can experience beginning today."

In addition to the retailer’s traditional grocery, merchandise and garden center departments, the new stores include pharmacies with drive-through pick up and Meijer’s free prescription program, which the company says has filled nearly 26 million free prescriptions, saving customers more than $376 million, since its inception in 2006.

Opening celebrations began with a ribbon-cutting event at each store, followed by remarks from Meijer leadership and local officials. The stores also made donations to local organizations. In Kenosha, Meijer donated $25,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha to revamp and reopen its "Kids in the Kitchen" program, which teaches youth members about healthy eating habits, as well as how to prepare and cook fresh meals and snacks for their families. In Grafton, Meijer donated $25,000 to the Village of Grafton to install five new informational kiosks and a new pavilion as part of the community’s Riverwalk.

Meijer plans to open two additional Wisconsin stores, in Wauwatosa and Oak Creek, in August.

"It’s been nearly 20 years since we’ve chosen to enter a new state, so we are grateful for the enthusiastic response we’ve received as we’ve built these first stores," Meijer president J.K. Symancyk said. "We are serious about our commitment to Wisconsin and plan to add two to three new stores per year through 2019."