Hispanic supermarket opens in Johnson County, entering ‘really supportive community’
Shawnee’s newest grocery store carries several Hispanic food brands that other markets in the U.S. might not.
Fud, El Pato, Marinela and Maseca, to name a few. Not to mention its rows of Mexican pastries and case of butchered meat and fish.
Alsuper Market hopes to fill a void in a Johnson County suburb where few full-size Hispanic grocery stores are close.
The market quietly opened last week at 10336 Shawnee Mission Parkway.
“Shawnee is a really supportive community,” said project manager Katrina Caddell. “There’s lots of people that live close by that are glad to have a grocery store …”
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The market’s owner, Luis Ramos, had been looking for the right time and place to open a Hispanic supermarket since he moved to the area 20 years ago. After driving down Shawnee Mission Parkway one day and seeing the vacant spot, he decided to take a make his longtime dream a reality.
In six to eight weeks, the kitchen in the back of the store will open and offer meals to go. Once it opens, the store will celebrate its grand opening, Caddell said.
Sitting between Trek and Sharks Restaurant & Billiards, Alsuper lives in the former home of a Michaels craft store. It had been vacant for several years before that.
Other Hispanic supermarket brands include El Mercado Fresco, a locally owned outfit that will soon open a spot in Olathe at 808 Old 56 Highway. That chain’s owner, Eddie Musallet, opened international market World Fresh Market at 10303 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park.
Alsuper’s hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.