When the Sun Fresh in the Blue Parkway Shops shut its doors on Oct. 25, local resident Deborah Phillips felt the loss keenly. “It’s a hard blow to the neighborhood,” she said, noting that many nearby families lack reliable transportation to shop for groceries.
The closure was the latest in a string of grocery store shutdowns across Kansas City, including the Linwood Sun Fresh, the Merc Co‑op, a Midtown Costco conversion, and a Save‑a‑Lot in North Kansas City. Those closures temporarily turned several neighborhoods into food deserts.
New store brings hope
In May, entrepreneur Anthony Estrada opened United Market KC in the former Linwood Sun Fresh space. Estrada reports the 36,000‑square‑foot full‑service store is averaging about 1,000 transactions per day and that sales are trending upward.
“We keep it clean and organized. The floors are shiny. The shelves are full, stocked and faced,” Estrada told The Beacon. He emphasizes that a grocery store alone cannot solve food insecurity if families cannot afford the items on the shelves.
Pricing strategy rooted in community
Estrada’s pricing approach focuses on volume and affordability rather than over‑pricing to offset theft. “When you have a store in an urban community, operators tend to overprice their items to compensate for theft, and I feel that’s unfair,” he explained to a city‑council committee.
He adds that the store negotiates with multiple suppliers to secure the best costs for fresh meat and produce, passing those savings directly to shoppers. “That’s kind of an operator’s choice. We get to pick the daily shelf price based on what percentage we feel the store can operate and pay its bills,” he said.
Community involvement and safety measures
United Market KC works closely with a neighborhood advisory board chaired by Pat Clarke, president of the Oak Park Neighborhood Association. The board meets monthly to provide feedback on product selection, pricing, and store safety.
Security has been bolstered with a guard at the entrance and dozens of surveillance cameras. Estrada notes that shared security and staff training have helped keep the store safe, addressing concerns that plagued the previous Sun Fresh location, such as crime incidents and a persistent sewer odor.
City support and future plans
The city of Kansas City purchased the Linwood Shopping Center in 2016 and invested $17 million to redevelop it, aiming to anchor a grocery store in the area. United Market KC’s success may validate that investment.
Estrada plans to open a second United Market location in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, within the coming months, hoping to replicate the model of community‑focused pricing and strong local engagement.
While national supermarket profit margins hover around 2 percent, United Market KC’s emphasis on low prices, local hiring, and community partnership demonstrates how a small business can thrive even in challenging urban markets.
Original reporting: The Beacon (Kansas City) — read the source article.
