Falkowski said the parking lot’s aisles and driving patterns will remain the same. About 10 to 12 existing parking spaces will be modified to add islands for the curbside service, he said. The company’s request is scheduled to go before the city’s planning commission June 9.
Meijer spokesman Joe Hirschmugl said the company is taking preliminary steps at many of its stores to find out which would be most suitable for testing the service. Hirschmugl said he did now know which other stores in the Dayton-Springfield region, if any, are under consideration for testing the program, called “Meijer Curbside.”
The service is being tested already at one of the chain’s Grand Rapids stores, Hirschmugl said.
Meijer Curbside “allows customers to shop for their items online and enjoy the convenience of picking up their groceries curbside without leaving the car,” according to a Meijer release.
“Meijer Curbside allows us to help our customers save time by remotely shopping for items throughout our store and choosing their own personal pick-up time,” Michael Ross, Meijer’s vice president of customer marketing and emerging technology, said. When customers arrive, employees load orders into their car and use a mobile device to take payment by credit card.
After full implementation, the service would cost $5 per order, Meijer officials said of the Grand Rapids pilot program.
Kroger has tested an online ordering and in-store pickup program in its Liberty Twp. store, and tentatively plans to allow customers to order groceries online and pick them up at its new store coming to the Cornerstone of Centerville development.
Six weeks ago, Meijer announced it is investing $50 million in four of its Dayton-area stores with extensive renovations of its “supercenter” stores in Kettering, Beavercreek, Miami Twp. and Englewood.
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