United Market: New Grocery Store in KCK

0:00It's March 31st. Kansas News today starts now, AI-powered and ready. Kansas City, Kansas, is on track to replace the Merco Up Grocery that shut down at the end of 2025. Local leaders just unanimously greenlit a letter of intent for Anthony Estrada and his Santa Fe LLC to launch a new spot called United Market Right. There at 501 Minnesota Avenue, they sped it up for a full vote by the board this Thursday. Estrada's got decades in the grocery game around the metro area, and he's aiming to bring back daily shopping from 8 a.m. to 8 a.m. with way. More fresh produce, a full meat counter, a from scratch bakery, and prices that match folks wallets. No boo sales either, so he can double down on dairy instead. The Merck's closure hit hard, leaving residents trekking farther for basics and messing with everyday routines. Estrada sees this as a chance to fix that food gap in downtown, hiring 15 to 20 neighbors to run the place and team up with churches and schools for community events.

1:03He's pitching smart deals too, like one year of free rent, then $5,000 a month starting in 2027 through April 20th, 29. Total makeover could run $570,000, and he's asking the county for $150,000 to help with demo and build out. Plus, he's eyeing a sister store at the old sun fresh spot in Kansas City, Missouri, so they can share supplies. Negotiations are rolling, and if it all lines up, United Market could soon have neighbors serving neighbors, rebuilding that vital food lifeline right in the heart of KCK.