Despite sale to Iowa chain, Kansas City OKs expansion at former McGonigle’s site
Kansas City officials on Thursday effectively greenlighted an expansion of the former McGonigle’s Market after hitting the brakes when they learned the store would sell to an Iowa chain.
The City Council last month had approved rezoning the McGonigle’s site at 79th Street and Ward Parkway and authorizing Mike McGonigle to tear down the market his family has owned for decades, along with several houses, to make way for a new, larger store and structure for the McGonigle’s to-go and catering businesses. Days later, McGonigle announced he had sold the market to Fareway Stores Inc., an Iowa-based chain.
The announcement apparently blindsided city officials, including Mayor Pro Tem Kevin McManus, 6th District. Earlier this month, he introduced two pieces of legislation to undo the council’s prior approval.
“Honestly, my intent never really was to do that,” McManus told a council committee Wednesday. “It was really just to press pause on this to allow a conversation to take place with the new owner as well as the neighborhood.”
With that conversation taken care of and with McManus’ support, the council backed off Thursday, killing his legislation.
The council also adopted a restricted covenant to govern the land, barring Fareway or future owners from converting it to something the neighborhood might not find favorable, such as a pawn shop, discount store or group home, McManus said.
In introducing his legislation earlier this month, McManus said he wanted to see Fareway get the same buy-in from neighbors that McGonigle’s had for decades. He said that he saw that positive reception at a Wednesday night neighborhood meeting and that Fareway is “in line with the concept that the neighborhood has seen for decades.”
“While the name will change from McGonigle’s to Fareway … I think we’re going to see a very similar product and service and, in some respects, probably an even better product and service than before,” McManus said in an interview Thursday.
McGonigle has said he doesn’t believe he misled the City Council, but the change in ownership was enough to give McManus and Councilwoman Andrea Bough, 6th District at-large, pause. The two represent the area and have both said McGonigle’s Market has the support of the greater neighborhood.
In an interview Thursday, McGonigle said he felt McManus and other council members were “doing their job” in wanting to find out more about Fareway before allowing the rezoning.
McGonigle started liquidating the store earlier this month with the intent of closing around Feb. 21. But inventory went so quickly, he said, that he closed last week. He said Fareway is planning to reopen the current building next week, but he was not aware of its timeline for the expansion.
McGonigle’s great-grandfather opened a wholesale meat company in the West Bottoms in 1882. His father, Bill, founded the market at its current site in 1951.
As for what’s next for McGonigle, he said he didn’t have any immediate plans.
“It’s definitely mixed emotions. I’m going to miss my customers and being a part of the community,” McGonigle said, “but I’m not going anywhere. I’ll still be in Kansas City.”
One of McManus’ pieces of legislation was killed unanimously. Members voted the other down 1-11.
Councilman Brandon Ellington, who is known for frequently voting against his colleagues, was the only “yes” vote on the latter ordinance, prompting laughter from his colleagues. Bough was absent.
A spokeswoman for Fareway did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday afternoon.
The Star’s Joyce Smith contributed to this report.
