Up North Dispatch: A ‘historic moment’ for North Kansas City
Good afternoon, Northland!
I’m Jenna Ebbers, back with your roundup of the biggest Northland stories from the past week.
Today, we’re diving into a new grocery store opening up north of the river next year.
For the first time in about three decades, a full-service grocery store is coming to North Kansas City, marking the end of a years-long battle to attract a new grocer to the area and end a longtime food desert just north of the Missouri River.
Fresh Market of Northtown, a branch of the locally owned World Fresh Market, is set to open sometime next year, bringing in a deli, meat counter and bakery.
But for Mayor Jesse Smith, the announcement is about more than just opening a new business in the area.
“This is a historic moment in North Kansas City,” he told me for the story. “It’s a major milestone.”
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What’s new in the Northland?
🌮 A KU grad is following in his father’s footsteps to serve up golden quesadillas, fresh guacamole and juicy steak tacos at the Northland’s newest Mexican restaurant.
📖 A former KC journalist left the news cycle behind to tap into children’s literature, leading her to open her own independent bookstore in downtown Parkville.
🚙 Northland drivers finally have a small relief to their traffic woes after a busy KC roadway was closed for months. The fix for now? A one-lane northbound route.
🏥 Patients at North Kansas City Health will be able to continue using a widely-used insurance company after the two entities made a last minute deal to keep services in-network.
🎈 Hot air balloon rides, live country music and community-wide water fights are all coming to this Northland city this month for its annual summer extravaganza.
My favorite reads
💔 Days after his beloved Parade of Hearts honeybee sculpture was destroyed by a vandal — tearing the head, legs and wings apart — a local artist is determined to restore it.
🌭 Costco’s famous hot dogs will be a thing of the past at KC’s midtown location, which will soon be turned into a business center. Check out what else will change.
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That’s all for now! See you next week.
