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DAYTON — Meijer is closing its store on Harshman Road along with two others in the Columbus area, while opening three others — including one in Huber Heights.

This spring, Meijer will open a store at 7150 Executive Blvd. in Huber Heights. Two other stores in the Columbus area — at 8300 Meijer Drive in Canal Winchester and at 2811 London-Groveport in Grove City — also are to open this year.

The Meijer store at 2744 Harshman Road was the first of the chain's stores in the Dayton area, opening with much fanfare in April 1991 and employing 859 people. It drew people from all over the area, eager to check out 24-hour, one-stop shopping in a 200,000-square-foot store.

According to Frank J. Guglielmi, Meijer's public relations director, the closing of stores and opening of others nearby is consistent with Meijer's focus on "smart, steady growth," and allowing them to provide "brand new shopping experiences."

Guglielmi said employees at closing stores will be offered positions at new or existing stores within their market area. He refused to verify the current number of employees or the dates of closings.

"New stores in Columbus and Dayton, two markets where we are firmly committed, will enhance the Meijer customer experience in Ohio," Meijer President Mark Murray said in a prepared statement.

Robert Murray, economic development director in Riverside, which abuts the store, said even with the store opening in Huber Heights, it may not be a gain for the county.

"There's the loss of the sales and income tax from that store," he said. "We don't lose it, but Dayton and Montgomery County do. It's really about moving out of the inner core and building new in greenfields. Dayton had infrastructure built with that store — so how do we sustain that infrastructure now?"

Dayton City Manager Rashad Young said he learned of the closing Wednesday via a fax from Meijer.

"They're opening a store two miles away. The geography we are so focused on is not on their radar," Young said. "From a competitive position, it may be better for them, but not for us."