Kansas City Grocery Store 'Disinvestment' Troubles South Side Neighborhood Group

Food options in parts of Kansas City are shirking every day.

Delivery by way of tech and membership warehouse plans offer some respite but it seems that corner stores could be a thing of the past.

Accordingly, this presser put out this morning offers an important glimpse at changing times hitting local dinner tables . . . Check-it;

Hickman Mills United Neighborhoods Expresses Concern Over Loss of "El Mercado Fresco" Grocery Store - When will the disinvestment in SEKC end?

Kansas City, MO - October 21, 2024  – Hickman Mills United Neighborhoods (HMUN) is deeply saddened to hear about the impending closure of "El Mercado Fresco," a local grocery store at 6859 Longview Road that has served our community for years. This loss represents another setback in a series of grocery store closures that continue to threaten food security for residents in our area. This multicultural grocery store served residents as far north as 87th Street due to its selection of fresh produce and fair pricing.

El Mercado Fresco is a vital community hub where families can access affordable, fresh produce and essential items. Its closure leaves a significant void, particularly for the many families in Hickman Mills who rely on nearby grocery stores for affordable, healthy food options. With limited public transportation and increasing barriers to accessing fresh food, this loss exacerbates the challenges many of our residents already face in the struggle to feed their families.

"Access to affordable, healthy food is a fundamental right, and the loss of 'El Mercado Fresco' leaves a huge hole in our neighborhood," said Brandon Wright, Co-Chair. "We cannot afford to lose another vital resource. Now, more than ever, we need to come together as a community to ensure that our families have the access they need to fresh, nutritious food. We sincerely hope that the city will take this challenge head-on, just as they did with the SunFresh Grocery Store closure at Red Bridge Shopping Center."

Hickman Mills United Neighborhoods has long advocated for food security and improved access to healthy foods. This closure reinforces our commitment to finding sustainable, long-term solutions to support our community. We are actively seeking ways to collaborate with local businesses, city officials, and community partners to explore new opportunities to fill this gap, including the possibility of bringing new grocery options to our area.

We encourage community members to join us in our efforts to support initiatives like the Three Trails Market, which aims to bring more local produce and home-grown food to our neighborhoods. We also urge city officials and stakeholders to prioritize the need for grocery access in Hickman Mills and work towards creating a more equitable food system for our residents.

“This grocery store closure, allegedly in part due to continued neglect of the Longview Shopping Center property by the landlord, is yet another move towards blight and disinvestment in Hickman Mills.” said Angela Clardy, Secretary, “Hickman Mills residents deserve better, and we call on our city leadership to act now.”
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Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link to the group's presser sent this morning . . .

Hickman Mills United Neighborhoods Expresses Concern Over Loss of "El Mercado Fresco" Grocery Store