KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
A Kansas City grocery store officially closed its doors Monday, with owners saying rising costs have made the store “unsustainable.”
KC Sun Fresh, located at 4209 E. 50th Terrace at The Shops on Blue Parkway, has shut down. Its final day in operation was Sunday, Oct. 25.
Community Builders of Kansas City, a nonprofit community development corporation that owns The Shops, said the store’s approximately 25 employees have been notified and offered a severance package. CBKC has also reportedly offered assistance connecting those employees with new jobs.
CBKC says that despite its financial support, “declining sales, economic factors and rising operating costs” drove the decision to close. The group says it has “elected to focus its resources where they will have the greatest long-term impact,” including projects related to housing, commercial real estate and workforce development.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020, we stepped in to operate the store and keep groceries and jobs close to home for East Side residents,” said Emmet Pierson Jr., president and CEO of CBKC. “We are grateful to every team member who served our neighbors through those challenging years and to everyone who shopped there.
“Our priorities now are supporting our team through the transition and helping residents find other grocery options. For 35 years, we have built housing, created jobs and invested in our community, and that work will continue.”
CBKC pointed to other grocery options within a 5-mile radius, including Price Chopper in Brookside, Aldi on 63rd Street and Walmart on State Route 350.
As the owner of The Shops on Blue Parkway, CBKC says it will keep the building secure and well-maintained while pursuing a new use for the center that brings quality goods, services and jobs.
