Glen Carbon Meijer: 2027 Opening at Orchard Town Center

One of the largest pieces of the Orchard Town Center development is now taking shape in Glen Carbon.

Construction is well underway on the new Meijer supercenter at 2301 Troy Road, where the nearly 160,000-square-foot store will serve as the primary retail anchor for Orchard Town Center.

After years of planning, mine remediation and site preparation, the project has moved firmly into vertical construction. By July 2026, the exterior walls and roof were in place, and a helicopter was used to install large rooftop HVAC units. Meijer told local media at the time that construction was progressing well and remained on schedule.

The store is expected to open in 2027. Orchard Town Center developer Tim Lowe has said the current target is spring or late spring 2027, although Meijer has not announced an exact grand-opening date.

For Glen Carbon and the surrounding Metro East, the project represents more than another new store. Meijer will become the largest tenant at Orchard Town Center and part of the company's first major expansion into the St. Louis-area market.

Glen Carbon Meijer Quick Facts

• Location: 2301 Troy Road, Glen Carbon, Illinois
• Development: Orchard Town Center
• Site: Outparcel 14
• Approved store size: 159,935 square feet
• Approximate size: 160,000 square feet
• Property size: 17.95 acres
• Expected opening: 2027
• Developer opening estimate: Spring to late spring 2027
• Current status: Under construction
• Role: Primary anchor of Orchard Town Center
• Original employment estimate: 200 to 300 jobs
• Planned uses: Grocery, general merchandise, pharmacy, apparel, home goods, garden and other departments

Village records identify the Meijer property as a 17.95-acre site containing approximately 781,902 square feet of land. Glen Carbon's approved final site plan calls for a 159,935-square-foot retail building.

Where Is the New Meijer in Glen Carbon?

The Glen Carbon Meijer is being built at 2301 Troy Road inside Orchard Town Center, the major retail development along Troy Road and Governors Parkway.

The store occupies Outparcel 14 and sits next to the Dick's Sporting Goods portion of the development.

At approximately 160,000 square feet, Meijer will account for a substantial share of Orchard Town Center's roughly 250,000 square feet of planned retail space. The larger development is expected to ultimately include about 21 businesses, with additional construction and openings continuing through 2028.

Several businesses are already operating throughout Orchard Town Center, while additional restaurants, services and retailers continue to move through construction and municipal approvals.

Meijer is the centerpiece of that larger buildout.

When Will Meijer Open in Glen Carbon?

The safest current timeline is 2027.

Recent reporting has placed the anticipated opening in spring 2027, with Orchard Town Center developer Tim Lowe previously describing the target as late spring 2027.

An exact grand-opening date has not been announced by Meijer.

That distinction is important.

While the developer has provided a more specific estimate, an exact date could still change as construction, interior buildout, inspections, inventory preparation and hiring continue.

As of summer 2026, however, the project has reached a very different stage than it occupied during previous years. The building itself is now clearly visible, major exterior work has progressed and Meijer has said construction remains on schedule.

Construction Has Accelerated in 2026

Anyone who regularly drives through Orchard Town Center has seen the difference.

For several years, most of the important work associated with the Meijer project was happening below ground or during site preparation.

That changed significantly in 2026.

The Village of Glen Carbon's January 2026 community update officially listed Meijer as under construction at Orchard Town Center.

By summer, the store had progressed rapidly.

In July, Meijer's exterior walls and roofing were already in place. On July 14, a helicopter was brought to the Glen Carbon site to lift and position large air-conditioning units onto the roof of the building.

Meijer External Communications Manager Erin Cataldo told the Intelligencer that the project was going well and remained on schedule.

The next stages will continue to transform what is currently a large building shell into an operating supercenter.

Why Did the Glen Carbon Meijer Take So Long?

The long timeline has been one of the biggest questions surrounding the project.

Meijer first entered the Orchard Town Center plans in 2022, but construction of the actual store did not immediately follow.

A major reason was what existed underground.

Orchard Town Center Sits Above a Former Coal Mine

The Meijer property is located above the remains of Madison County Mine No. 4, part of Glen Carbon and Madison County's extensive coal-mining history.

Before construction could advance, the site required significant investigation and underground stabilization.

Meijer eventually conducted a mine-grouting and concrete-filling program to stabilize underground voids beneath the future store.

In 2024, Meijer confirmed it was conducting mine grouting while preparing the property for the future Glen Carbon store.

The underground concrete-filling work was completed on January 31, 2025, according to Glen Carbon Director of Community Development Erika Heil.

Meijer previously said the additional mine grouting was included in its development plan to help ensure the site's long-term viability.

That underground work explains why residents could go months without seeing the type of visible construction normally associated with a new retail store.

The project was progressing, but much of the early work was happening beneath the future building.

Meijer Replaced Menards as the Orchard Town Center Anchor

Meijer was not originally supposed to be the major anchor at Orchard Town Center.

The original development plans called for a Menards of approximately 209,000 square feet.

That changed in 2022.

During a May 24, 2022 Glen Carbon Building and Development Committee meeting, village officials said Menards had been unable to close on the property with the developer. Meijer was then introduced as the replacement anchor.

The difference in size was notable.

Menards had been planned at approximately 209,000 square feet, while Meijer's proposal was approximately 160,000 square feet.

Village discussions at the time noted that the smaller building allowed additional room for parking, greenspace and trail connectivity while keeping the same general anchor parcel within Orchard Town Center.

The Village Board later approved Meijer's final site plan for a 159,935-square-foot store in 2022.

What Will Be Inside the Glen Carbon Meijer?

Meijer is much more than a traditional grocery store.

The Glen Carbon location is being developed as a full Meijer supercenter, combining groceries and fresh food with a broad selection of general merchandise.

In a June 2026 statement about the Glen Carbon project, Meijer said its supercenters feature:

• Farm-fresh produce
• Deli departments
• Meat departments
• Specialty and national-brand groceries
• Meijer-branded grocery products
• Full-service pharmacy
• Baby products
• Pet departments
• Apparel
• Beauty products
• Floral departments
• Garden centers
• General merchandise

 

Early presentations to Glen Carbon officials also described the proposed store as having separate "fresh" and "home" sides.

During the 2022 presentation, the project team described the merchandise mix as approximately 60 percent fresh and 40 percent home-related merchandise. Plans also included grocery pickup spaces, a pharmacy drive-through, outdoor display areas and a garden center.

Those details give Glen Carbon a much different retail concept than a conventional grocery-only store.

Will the Glen Carbon Meijer Have a Pharmacy?

Yes.

A pharmacy is included in the approved store plan, and Meijer has continued to identify a full-service pharmacy as part of the Glen Carbon supercenter concept.

The original project presentation also included a pharmacy drive-through.

Will the Glen Carbon Meijer Be Open 24 Hours?

The approved Glen Carbon site plan allows the store to operate 24 hours daily.

That does not necessarily mean the store will operate 24 hours a day when it opens.

The approval gives Meijer the ability to do so, but actual operating hours can be set by the retailer and may differ from the maximum hours permitted by the Village.

Meijer has not publicly announced the operating hours for the Glen Carbon location.

Is a Meijer Gas Station Coming to Glen Carbon?

A Meijer convenience store and fuel station was discussed during the earliest planning process, but it was not confirmed.

During the May 2022 committee presentation, Glen Carbon officials said Meijer was considering the possibility of a convenience store and fueling station, but the decision was still undecided.

No later announcement reviewed for this update confirms a Meijer fuel center as part of the store currently under construction.

For that reason, a Meijer gas station should not currently be treated as a confirmed part of the Glen Carbon development.

How Many People Will the Glen Carbon Meijer Employ?

The original estimate was 200 to 300 jobs.

Meijer representatives gave that estimate to Glen Carbon officials during the company's initial 2022 presentation.

Those positions would be expected to cover the many departments required to operate a supercenter, including grocery, fresh food, stocking, general merchandise, pharmacy, pickup, customer service and management.

A final Glen Carbon employment count has not been announced.

As the store gets closer to opening, hiring activity should provide another indication of the opening timeline.

How Big Is the Meijer Parking Lot?

The final site plan approved by Glen Carbon calls for 543 regular parking spaces.

Village code would otherwise have required 604 regular spaces for a development of this size, so Meijer received a parking variance as part of its final approval.

The site also includes internal access through Orchard Town Center, loading areas behind the store and connections designed to coordinate with the surrounding development.

Earlier planning discussions included cross-access between parcels and coordination with Madison County Transit for trail and bike connections near the development.

Why Meijer Is So Important to Orchard Town Center

Meijer is not simply another tenant filling an available retail space.

It is the anchor around which a significant portion of Orchard Town Center has been planned.

Tim Lowe, senior vice president of development for The Staenberg Group, has said Meijer's presence has helped generate additional tenant interest in the center.

That makes sense from a retail-development standpoint.

A 160,000-square-foot supercenter can generate consistent daily traffic from customers shopping for groceries, pharmacy products, household goods and general merchandise.

That repeat traffic can help support the restaurants, service businesses and smaller retailers surrounding the anchor.

Orchard Town Center is now planned at approximately 250,000 square feet across roughly 21 businesses, with the overall development expected to continue taking shape through 2028.

Meijer alone represents nearly 160,000 square feet of that total.

Meijer Is Also Entering the St. Louis Market

The Glen Carbon project has regional significance beyond Orchard Town Center.

Meijer is simultaneously developing stores in Glen Carbon and O'Fallon, Illinois, giving the Michigan-based retailer its first major presence in the Metro East and St. Louis-area grocery market.

In August 2026, Meijer Market Director for Central Illinois Bobby Warren said the company sees a need in the two communities and is looking forward to growing in the region.

Meijer currently operates approximately 270 locations across the Midwest.

Its arrival adds another major competitor to a Metro East grocery and retail market that already includes chains such as Schnucks, Dierbergs, Walmart, Aldi and others.

The Meijer format is different from many traditional grocery stores because groceries represent only part of the store.

Shoppers can also find apparel, home products, pharmacy services, garden products, pet supplies, beauty products and other general merchandise under the same roof.

Orchard Town Center Has Required Major Infrastructure Work

The growth of Orchard Town Center has also required substantial infrastructure investment.

Developer Tim Lowe has said approximately $6 million in road improvements were required in connection with the development.

When Meijer replaced Menards in the site plan, the project team reviewed traffic assumptions using Meijer's expected land use.

At the time, representatives said they were not seeking additional improvements beyond the transportation work already approved for the overall development and were working to align Meijer's access points with the surrounding outlots.

The result is a development designed around a connected internal road network rather than treating each outparcel as an isolated property.

How Is Orchard Town Center Being Financed?

Orchard Town Center also includes a public redevelopment financing structure.

In January 2022, the Village of Glen Carbon established the Orchard Town Center Business District, which collects an additional 1 percent sales tax within the district.

Village financial records state that the revenue can be used for eligible business district project costs and obligations associated with the redevelopment.

That financing applies to the broader Orchard Town Center project.

It should not be described as though the Village simply gave the same amount directly to Meijer.

The distinction is important when discussing public financing associated with the development.

What Meijer's Arrival Means for Glen Carbon

The Glen Carbon Meijer represents one of the largest individual commercial projects currently under construction in the village.

Its impact is likely to extend beyond the store itself.

The supercenter establishes a major grocery and general merchandise anchor at Orchard Town Center, adds a new regional retailer to the Metro East, creates additional employment opportunities and supports the continuing buildout of one of Glen Carbon's largest commercial developments.

It also represents the culmination of a project that has taken years to reach this stage.

The site went from a proposed Menards anchor to a Meijer project in 2022. It then moved through detailed planning, mine investigation, underground remediation, grading and foundation preparation before finally reaching visible vertical construction.

Now the building is difficult to miss.

What Happens Next?

The major question is no longer whether the Glen Carbon Meijer will be built.

The store is actively under construction.

The questions now center on the final construction timeline, hiring and the exact opening date.

Based on the latest information available:

Meijer is expected to open at Orchard Town Center in 2027.

The developer has identified spring or late spring 2027 as the current target, but Meijer has not announced a specific grand-opening date.

As construction continues, residents should expect additional progress on the building exterior, interior departments, signage, landscaping, parking areas and final site work.

Frequently Asked Questions About Meijer in Glen Carbon

Is Meijer officially coming to Glen Carbon?

Yes. The store is approved and actively under construction at Orchard Town Center.

Where is Meijer being built in Glen Carbon?

The store is located at 2301 Troy Road in Orchard Town Center, on Outparcel 14.

How big will the Glen Carbon Meijer be?

The approved building contains 159,935 square feet, commonly rounded to approximately 160,000 square feet.

When will Meijer open in Glen Carbon?

The store is expected to open in 2027. Orchard Town Center's developer has targeted spring or late spring 2027, but an exact opening date has not been announced by Meijer.

Will Glen Carbon Meijer have groceries?

Yes. Meijer has confirmed fresh produce, deli, meat and grocery departments as part of its supercenter format.

Will it have a pharmacy?

Yes. The store plans include a full-service pharmacy and pharmacy drive-through.

Will there be a Meijer gas station?

A fuel center was discussed as a possibility in 2022, but there is currently no verified announcement confirming one as part of the project.

How many jobs will Meijer create?

Meijer representatives originally estimated 200 to 300 jobs when the project was introduced to Glen Carbon officials in 2022. A final employment number has not been released.

Why was construction delayed?

A major factor was mine remediation beneath the property. Concrete filling and underground stabilization work was completed in January 2025 before the project moved into later stages of site preparation and building construction.

Follow Glen Carbon Development

The Meijer project is only one part of the rapid growth taking place at Orchard Town Center and across Glen Carbon.

For a full look at the businesses already open, projects under construction and additional tenants planned at the development, read the latest Orchard Town Center Glen Carbon development update on 618 Homes.

Follow @618_homes for continued coverage of new restaurants, retail projects, residential development and major construction throughout Glen Carbon, Edwardsville and the Metro East.