OT: RIP Fred Meijer

Submitted by gebe659 on

The great Michigan businessman passed away tonight from a brain hemorrhage.  He was 91.

JohnnyBlue

November 25th, 2011 at 11:28 PM ^

Was always cool growing up in the town of the first "meijer" (greenville, mi)  Hopefully his sons will continue the battle against Walmart in the greatlakes region.  

Tim in Huntsville

November 26th, 2011 at 9:35 AM ^

When I was growing up (just off the west end of Crystal Lake on Colby Road), we used to make our weekly trek to Meijer Thrifty Acres in Greenville.  Of course, as a kid we had our silly nicknames for it; we called it 'Meijer Shifty Acres'.

A few years ago, my parents were at a Christmas Party at, believe it or not, an Amish farm in Greenville and met Fred there.  From all accounts, Fred was a great businessman *and* a great person.

I just wish he had extended the Meijer chain down here to Alabama.

Tim

 

ST3

November 26th, 2011 at 12:35 AM ^

I worked at Meijer's one summer. A lot of places give lip service to being a "family business" with "values", but Meijer's was really that way because of Fred.

JeanClaudeVanD…

November 26th, 2011 at 1:30 AM ^

Has been a meijer employee for 31 years and would frequently run into Fred at the offices. He truly looked up to that man because he treated everyone from the vice presidents to the 14 year old kid sweeping floors with the utmost respect. he will be deeply missed in our family

LSAClassOf2000

November 26th, 2011 at 6:21 AM ^

I have the unique opportunity of being about equidistant from the stores in Belleville and Taylor in Wayne County, and I like Meijer enough that I always have trouble deciding. 

RIP, Fred. Your stores are just that good. Thoughts to the family and employees of the company. 

strafe

November 26th, 2011 at 7:33 AM ^

I never met Fred, but I worked there for a few years in high school and the summer after my freshman year at Michigan. Hank Meijer, his son, might have been one of the nicest guys I've met. At least, nice enough to shoot the shit with a cart boy for five minutes in the parking lot.