Just months after securing approval for its first Western Pennsylvania store in Cranberry Township, Meijer has already set its sights on expanding north into Jackson Township. submitted photo

Just months after securing approval for its first Western Pennsylvania store in Cranberry Township, Meijer has already set its sights on expanding north into Jackson Township.

The Michigan-based grocery chain is exploring a new location at Jackson’s Pointe Commerce Park, the Pittsburgh Business Times reported last week.

While nothing has been officially announced, a spokesperson for Meijer confirmed the company is looking at the rapidly expanding business park.

“We are interested in exploring this location (Jackson’s Pointe), but have not submitted plans yet, so there are no details to share at this time,” said Erin Cataldo, Meijer’s external communications manager.

Cataldo also noted that there are other locations that the company is keeping its eye on, although she did not specify where.

“We plan to continue pursuing multiple opportunities throughout Western Pennsylvania and are looking forward to serving customers here in the future,” she said.

Nikki Colton, Jackson Township’s planning director and zoning officer, confirmed to the Pittsburgh Business Times that Meijer has been in contact with the township regarding the possibility of a location at Jackson’s Pointe.

Representatives for the Buncher Company, which owns and manages Jackson’s Pointe, did not immediately respond Monday, Feb. 23, to a request for comment.

The privately owned and family-operated chain operates more than 500 supercenters, grocery stores, neighborhood markets and express locations across six states, according to its website.

The news comes as Meijer prepares to break ground on its first Western Pennsylvania store, a 159,000-square-foot supercenter set for the intersection of Route 228 and Franklin Road.

Along with a new Meijer Express gas station and convenience store, the location will be a part of a 44.5-acre, mixed-use development known as Henderson Crossing, which is slated to include several restaurants and eight residential buildings.

The development and the increased traffic it will bring to the area has been a hot topic of conversation for local leaders and the public at large.

Earlier this month, an engineer for Seven Fields sent a letter to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation about a traffic impact study that was done in connection to Henderson Crossing.

After reviewing the study in detail, engineer Douglas Evans outlined six primary concerns, including whether the development can realistically be completed by 2029.

Although no formal construction timeline has been announced, the planning process could become more complicated as PennDOT aims to begin a multimillion dollar widening project of a 3-mile stretch of Route 228 through Seven Fields and Cranberry and Adams townships.

At a November public meeting in Seven Fields, PennDOT officials said design work for that undertaking expected to be completed in late 2027.

The project intends to widen the corridor to two lanes in each direction, add new turning lanes and traffic signals and replace several bridge structures to improve safety and traffic flow.