MIDDLEBURG HEIGHTS, Ohio – Revitalization of the Southland Business District continues, as Middleburg Heights Mayor Matt Castelli announced at the Nov. 26 City Council meeting that Meijer will purchase the nearly 15-acre former Sears property and build a supercenter there.
The Michigan-based retailer will pay $5.5 million for the West 130th Street property – which the city purchased for $1.8 million last year – and construct a 160,000-square-foot building as part of Meijer’s $20 million investment.
City Council unanimously approved a resolution enabling Castelli to execute the purchase agreement.
Meijer stores offer groceries, organics, general merchandise, a floral department, pharmacy and clothing. A 20,000-square-foot garden center, as well as a gas station, are also planned.
The supercenter will anchor Southland and the multi-use Main Street development on Smith Road.
“Typically, communities aren’t in the business of purchasing private property … but we felt it was extremely important for the city of Middleburg Heights to set some direction for Southland Shopping District,” Castelli told council, expressing his pleasure at providing residents “a one-stop shopping” experience.
“That vacant property … sat there year after year, so we’re excited about this opportunity.”
Key to securing the Meijer project was a $5.5 million Ohio Department of Development brownfield grant, which will be used to demolish the former Sears department store and the defunct auto center on the outlot.
Meijer Senior Real Estate Manager Cris Jones addressed Middleburg Heights City Council prior to passage of a resolution enabling the sale of property needed to construct a new supercenter in the city. (Beth Mlady/special to cleveland.com)Beth Mlady/special to cleveland.com
Meijer Senior Real Estate Manager Cris Jones spoke prior to the council vote, noting the store will employ between 275 and 300 associates.
“We are very excited about this project,” Jones said. “We will work hand in hand with Chuck (Bichara, economic development director), his team and the mayor’s staff to bring forth a really beautiful project.”
He later told cleveland.com the availability of the former Sears site, combined with the multi-million dollar brownfield grant, truly made all the difference.
“(Site preparation) is always a difficult hurdle to overcome, that expense of environmental remediation and asbestos containment, not to mention just the demolition itself,” Jones explained.
“The city’s ability to secure a brownfield agreement to take care of a major obstacle really paved the way for the project.”
Jones said the store could open for business in 2026, noting construction typically takes a year.
“In 2025, people will see the (Sears) buildings come down, and we can’t start until that work is complete,” he said.
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