A grocery with a new name, fresh look and community vision opens on Prospect | Opinion
Everything about the new Kansas City grocery store that for years had been plagued with problems and then shuttered last year has changed, that is, except for its location in the shopping center at 31st Street and Prospect Avenue.
Even the name. It’s no longer a Sun Fresh. The new name is United Market, and its new owner, Anthony Estrada, said he designed the 36,000-square-foot grocery store around the idea that it is the community’s market.
At 10 a.m. Wednesday, the United Market will celebrate its grand opening with festive fuss — music, speeches, shopping — and the whole community is invited.
I caught up with Estrada at the store on Tuesday. The place was abuzz with workers putting the finishing touches on departments, including the floral area, deli, meats, baked goods, sale bins and more.
Estrada said he’s so excited to show the space off to community members on Wednesday that not only has he been working day and night getting ready, but he also hasn’t gotten much sleep.
You wouldn’t know it to look at him, though. His exhaustion is likely masked by the smile that spread across his face as he walked me through, pointing out special features, like the brand new “top of the line” grocery carts and the clear plastic vegetable bins, so shoppers can see that the produce is fresh all the way to the bottom.
And then there’s the signage — emblazoned with the new logo — hands wrapped around and holding up what looks like a perfect peach, symbolizing that United Market supports its community. Signs strategically placed throughout the store bear messages like “Great Prices, Fresh Choices.”
.jpeg "IMG_6972 (1).jpeg")
Safety measures installed
Just as Estrada promised when he took over the grocery store earlier this year, he has paid special attention to making safety a priority.
Cameras have been installed throughout the store, including at the checkout counters. Shoppers will be met by a security station at the front door, not to mention the cameras that scan the parking lot and the roving security officer keeping watch outside the store.
“I want shoppers to have a good experience from the time they leave their car and the whole time they are shopping,” Estrada said. “I want them to want to shop here because the feel valued from the time they walk through the door.”
Safety, or the lack of it, was a major problem at the old grocery store. Before it shut down, reports surfaced about violent crime, theft, poorly stocked shelves inside and public sex and drugs outside, which made it unappealing to the residents it was intended to serve.
Employees reported feeling unsafe working in the store. In short, the place was a mess, despite the millions of dollars the city poured into it.
But residents in that East Side community need and deserve a safe grocery store, where the floors are clean, the food is fresh, the shelves are stocked and the variety is plentiful.
Estrada said that when he put out a call for workers, people flocked to the store to apply for jobs. Most of the employees, he told me, come from the community, and that’s a good thing because they know what the community needs and “they wanted to be a part of this,” Estrada said.
United Market management hired everyone they needed within about four hours. Estrada has a stack of applications on a wait list.
Outreach to neighbors, membership program
Estrada said he is certain neighbors invested in the new store. Volunteers, older adults and high school students have shown up to help stock shelves. And Estrada plans to reach out to schools to arrange for students to come into the store as volunteers from time to time, helping bag groceries or carrying groceries.
The more the community is involved in the store, the more likely it is that area residents will help keep it up. To ensure community members feel a sense of ownership in the store, Estrada plans to initiate a shoppers’ membership program.
In a few months, customers will get a free membership card that they will flash when they enter the store and need in order to pay for groceries. “We will figure out exceptions,” for the casual visitor to the store, Estrada said.
He doesn’t want to exclude legitimate shoppers. Plus, he wants passersby to see how nice the store is, and sometimes just pop in to pick up that forgotten carton of milk on their way home from work.
He plans to keep meeting with community members, city officials and police so everyone stays engaged, focused on making sure this store thrives.
I’m rooting for this place. There have been a lot of skeptics who’ve said it can’t succeed. Like Estrada, I’m optimistic. I believe it can. It certainly is getting a beautiful start. And if Estrada is right about community support being the missing link to its success, then it’s going to make it.
