Terra Health & Wellness Market now open

For the last two decades, Lori Perry’s general contracting business, Diamond Contractors Inc. in Lee’s Summit, has built and remodeled stores for such clients as CVS, Payless ShoeSource and Bed Bath & Beyond throughout the country.

Now she’s opened a retail shop of her own, a specialty health food store with a goal of empowering her customers “To eat better. Live healthier.”

Terra Health & Wellness Market, at 19800 E. Jackson Drive, Independence, offers products that are free of artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives. The emphasis is on organic — from the produce department to the salad bar to house-made soups and organic beer and wine. It also has a large gluten-free section.

It sells organic coffee by the Roasterie and has a water dispenser serving high PH, reverse osmosis, and deionized water. Perry plans to expand its meat offerings to include buffalo and grass fed beef.

Her grab-and-go deli serves sandwiches, wraps, hummus, pastries by Elle’s Bakeria in Overland Park, fresh-pressed organic juices and smoothies.

Terra was inspired by a family health problem.

A few years ago, Perry’s then 24-year-old son developed severe food allergies. When doctors were having trouble diagnosing and treating the problem, he took on his recovery himself, researching food products and then setting up a new “clean diet” that turned his health problems around. Then he encouraged his family to follow suit.

So when another locally owned Independence health food store was recently sold to a national chain, Perry saw an opportunity to fill that niche for for a locally owned market that would sell many of the products her family used, including those by local vendors.

Her Diamond Contractors remodeled the 11,000-square-foot Independence space, using wood and corrugated metal from a 100-year-old Pleasant Hill barn in the decor, along with touches like an old hog feeder.

Perry said her two businesses are similar in that she is managing employees and the financials for both. But her background isn’t in retail, so she’s put together a team at Terra that has experience in the health food industry, including a marketing director and health supplement adviser.

A large service desk in front of the store is for special orders, returns and other customer requests. It also signals her commitment to customer service.

“Customer service is the No. 1 thing. I want people to come in and see bright and shiny faces,” Perry said. “I want every customer to feel valued and appreciated and that we are there for them. That’s the reason we are in business.”

Freddy’s brings its steakburgers to the Northland

Wichita’s Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has been in expansion mode here and elsewhere.

Now it has a second Kansas City, North location. The fast-casual restaurant opened on May 26 in a new freestanding building at 5150 N. Oak Trafficway, in front of Sam’s Club. It seats 110 people in the dining room and 24 on the patio. It also has a double drive-thru.

In a statement, Bill Simon, co-founder and chief executive officer of Freddy’s, said he was grateful to area residents who continue to support the concept. He also attributed the company’s success to its longtime focus on high-quality ingredients, hospitality and making cleanliness a top priority.

The first Freddy's opened in 2002 and the chain now operates 154 locations in 23 states. It has development agreements in place with franchisees to expand to more than 700 restaurants over the next few years.

A new restaurant opened in May in St. Joseph. It is currently looking at two area sites for two new corporate-owned locations.

Freddy's menu includes steakburgers, hot dogs, grilled chicken sandwiches, chicken tenders, chili, fries and frozen custard.

Openings

▪ The Big Biscuit opened Monday at 840 S. Missouri 291 in Liberty.

▪ Big Lots plans a June 12 opening for its new 21,008-square-foot store at 13637 Washington St. in Stateline Station.

The discount retailer operates 1,461 Big Lots stores in 48 states.

The stores sell a variety of products including food, furniture and home décor, seasonal, and electronics and accessories.

This story was originally published June 2, 2015 at 8:59 AM with the headline "Terra Health & Wellness Market now open."