Kansas City councilwoman wants to give $1.2M to Sun Fresh to prevent food desert
One city councilmember hopes to help a struggling grocery store. The Sun Fresh Market at W. 31st and Prospect Avenue rests on city-controlled property that's been plagued with problems.
Missouri Attorney General sues city of Kansas City over Sunshine request
FOX4 spoke with Community Builders, the nonprofit that manages the Sun Fresh Market. Emmit Pierson, Jr., the group's CEO, said there isn't enough being done to fight drug deals and prostitution there.
He said it's scaring off customers, and in turn, causing store shelves to go bare. On Friday morning, inventory at the store appeared to be low, with many displays and shelves having limited stock.
Melissa Robinson, third district city councilmember, is proposing the city give $1.2 million to help the struggling store. Councilwoman Robinson introduced her ordinance during Thursday's city council meeting.
'If you don't have folks who are coming in and patronizing, how are you going to replenish the shelves?' Robinson asked.
She said she hopes the money will enable store owners to upgrade their store, replenish their stock and improve security measures. Pierson said the store has been operating at a financial loss for the past two years.
'If you're not a full-line grocery store, you can't offer WIC,' she said. 'That's an important factor here. If we want that store to be viable…it's going to require a certain level of city subsidy.'
The closest full-line grocery store, or supermarket, is at least a mile away from that location. Neighboring businesses think of that Sun Fresh store as being a retail hub and an anchor that draws customers.
'It brings good community; it brings a sense of togetherness,' said Marcus Craig, manager at the City Gear located across the street. 'You have all these different people and different ethnicities coming to make up this neighborhood. Each store has its essential elements to it.'
Councilwoman Robinson also said that location sat empty for years before Sun Fresh took over. When the previous grocer moved out, the stores around it dried up, too.
Some are concerned this could happen again if Sun Fresh isn't able to keep its doors open.
The second reading of that proposed ordinance is expected to happen next Tuesday.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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