Store is part of larger effort to bolster economic activity, create jobs and address food insecurity in the Cleveland Innovation District
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Near Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, Meijer opened Fairfax Market today bringing a mix of fresh, local and convenient food to customers in Cleveland’s Fairfax neighborhood.
A ribbon-cutting and grand opening took place at the new market located at 2190 E. 105th St. Cleveland Clinic CEO and President Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., was on hand at the opening, along with Hank Meijer, Meijer Executive Chairman; Rick Keyes, Meijer President and CEO; Blaine Griffin, Cleveland City Council President and Ward 6 Councilman; and Denise VanLeer, Fairfax Renaissance executive director.
“Cleveland Clinic shares Meijer’s commitment to improving the health of the communities they serve, and we appreciate their dedication to ensuring healthy food is now accessible in the Fairfax neighborhood,” said Dr. Mihaljevic, holder of the Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair.
“Food insecurity, or lack of access to healthy foods, is a growing problem across the country,” said Dr. Mihaljevic. “As a social determinant of health, food insecurity can have a significant impact on a person’s overall well-being.”
Bringing Meijer to the Fairfax neighborhood began with a community conversation among Dr. Mihaljevic, Griffin and area residents. A group of local Cleveland leaders visited a Meijer neighborhood market in Michigan. They saw the positive impact it had on the community and thought a similar Meijer market would be a good fit for the Fairfax neighborhood.
In 2021, the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Clinic, Meijer, Fairfax Renaissance Development Corporation and Fairmount Properties broke ground on the new grocery market and Medley apartment complex. To help revitalize and transform the neighborhood, the project significantly contributes to the partners’ shared goal of addressing food insecurity, supporting economic development in the area, and providing a new shopping destination for customers from surrounding neighborhoods. At least 50 new jobs have been created by the opening of Fairfax Market.
Meijer and Cleveland Clinic have partnered many times to address community needs. As a long-time donor, Meijer has provided funds and supplies for pediatric cancer research, Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital, a school-based mobile health program in Cleveland-area schools and an annual Thanksgiving dinner for Cleveland Clinic employees.
“Meijer is committed to investing in the communities where our customers and team members live and work, and that same philosophy applies to our neighborhood stores like Fairfax Market,” said Keyes.
At 40,000 square feet, Fairfax Market offers a wide range of products, including fresh meat and deli items, fresh produce, a bakery, and Meijer and national brand items. It also carries more than 2,000 local products from 150 local vendors. Fairfax Market offers 90 minutes of free parking in a covered ramp next door for customers, onsite grocery pickup, and various forms of delivery. The store is developing a pickup program on Cleveland Clinic’s main campus for hospital employees.
For more information on the market’s features and offerings, visit fairfaxmarket.com.
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, it was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 81,000 employees worldwide are more than 5,743 salaried physicians and researchers, and 20,160 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,690-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 276 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2023, there were 13.7 million outpatient encounters, 323,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 301,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Patients came for treatment from every state and 132 countries. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at twitter.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.
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