GROCERY

Carol Gardner and Bobby Hodge, 14, both of Flint, shop for apples at Meijer on Pierson Road in Mt. Morris Township in 2008.

(MLive.com File Photo)

Meijer logo

MT. MORRIS TWP., MI - Meijer will close its Mt. Morris Township location in May, the company said.

After notifying employees on Wednesday, Feb. 25, Meijer announced the store location and Meijer gas station will be demolished after it closes on May 22.

The store, 4333 W. Pierson Road, opened in 1972.

"Based on the age and design of the store and its current sales volume it would not be economically feasible to remodel the existing store to our current standard," the release said.

UPDATE: Closings of Pierson Road Meijer, Kroger have neighbors concerned about where they'll get food

In a written statement, Meijer said it remains committed to the greater Flint-area despite the closing.

"During the past several years, Meijer has invested more than $50 million in the Flint area," the release said. "This includes a major remodel to the Hill Road store in Flint in 2014, a new store in Swartz Creek in 2013 and a new store in Davison Township in 2008."

The Meijer closure will be the second major blow to Pierson Road retail options.

In July 2014, the Kroger store in Mt. Morris Township along Pierson Road announced it would close -- much to the frustration of local residents who were concerned about their grocery store options.

A protest was held in response to the closing, but the store eventually closed in August.

Mt. Morris Township Supervisor Larry Green said the township was given a "short notice this was coming down the pipe."

"Meijer is a very large corporation and they're in charge of their stores and planning what needs to be done for them," he said.

The township doesn't know the tax revenue lost by the demolition yet, Green said but added the closing is tough news for residents.

"It will create a hardship in the community and we'll have to do what we can to find resolve," he said.