Meijer grocery store chain announced on Tuesday, Sept. 30 that it has begun acquiring properties in Western Pennsylvania for future expansion into the region. Submitted photo

A popular Midwestern grocery store chain could soon have a presence in Western Pennsylvania.

Meijer, a retailer based in Grand Rapids, Mich., announced Tuesday, Sept. 30, that it has begun acquiring properties in the region following a successful expansion into neighboring northeast Ohio.

“Building on our success in northeast Ohio and the amazing response we’ve received from those communities, we have started acquiring properties in Western Pennsylvania,” the company said in a statement.

It is unclear where those properties are located, with the company also noting that there is “no definitive timeline for the opening of new stores.”

However, Meijer said it is eager to introduce its brand to the area, offering fresh, affordable groceries, wide-ranging merchandise and what it calls an “exceptional shopping experience.”

“Our expansion into this market reflects our commitment to serving more customers with fresh, affordable groceries, one-stop shopping, and outstanding service,” the statement stated. “We look forward to introducing ourselves to these communities and are committed to being an active and engaged neighbor.”

Meijer, which was founded in Greenville, Mich., in 1934, employs more than 70,000 people and operates more than 500 locations across Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.

The news comes on the heels of Wegmans, a Rochester, N.Y.,-based grocery chain, receiving final clearances to begin construction of a 115,000-square-foot store along Cool Springs Drive near the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry Township.

That store, which will be the company’s first venture into the Greater Pittsburgh Region, is set to open in 2027.

Both Meijer and Wegmans will be competing for market share with existing chains such as Giant Eagle, Walmart, Aldi, Costco, Target and Shop ’n Save.

Giant Eagle recently opened its new corporate headquarters in Cranberry Township. After an initial lease signing in December 2023, the company held a ribbon cutting in April for a four-story, 100,000-square-foot building in Cranberry Woods Business Park.