A long-empty Big Lots on Clinton Township’s Gratiot corridor is headed for demolition, clearing space for a new 76,000-square-foot Meijer Fresh grocery at the regional shopping center at Gratiot Avenue and 15 Mile Road.
Breakpoint Investments has closed on the property and plans to level the vacant store to make room for the grocer, according to Wednesday's news release from Clinton Township. Township officials said the acquisition opens the door for the Meijer project, and Supervisor Paul Gieleghem called the purchase “an important moment for the Gratiot corridor.” The release also notes that Breakpoint principals Ars Atisha and Ryan Shina are committed to advancing the redevelopment.
Meijer’s ‘Fresh’ Concept
Meijer laid the groundwork for the project late last year, when the retailer submitted a detailed letter of intent for the site, according to C&G Newspapers. The company’s Fresh/Grocery format is described in the Meijer Newsroom as a grocery-forward design that leans heavily on deli, bakery, pharmacy, and produce, rather than the sprawling supercenter footprint many shoppers associate with the brand.
Where It Will Sit
The new store is slated for the Regional Shopping Center at Gratiot and 15 Mile, which already features national names like Lowe’s, an AMC theater, Five Guys, and Starbucks, according to the Detroit Free Press. Local coverage notes that Clinton Township is one of Michigan’s larger suburbs, with roughly 100,000 residents and a heavy concentration of homes near Gratiot, a combination that has made the intersection attractive to retailers.
Breakpoint told the township that demolishing the vacant Big Lots is the next step, followed by site cleanup and pad preparation before vertical construction starts, according to the township’s news release. The work is also being folded into the township’s Downtown Development Authority plan for Gratiot, which officials say is intended to coordinate short-term upgrades and longer-term redevelopment along the corridor, per Clinton Township.
Local Impact And Next Moves
Commercial real-estate listings already flag the address as a prime redevelopment play and suggest a new Meijer could shake up traffic patterns and leasing interest in the center, according to CommercialCafe. Township leaders and Breakpoint have pitched the deal as a boost for jobs and investment in the area, although they have not released specific hiring projections or a construction schedule.
What Residents Should Know
For now, there is no public timeline for either demolition or opening day. Officials say the planning process will continue as permits are requested and site plans are finalized. A Meijer spokesperson told the Detroit Free Press the company is “excited about the potential” of adding a new Clinton Township location but declined to share further details.
