Sun Fresh Market, a city-funded grocery store in Kansas City, Missouri, is struggling despite millions in taxpayer investment. The store opened in 2018 as part of an effort to revitalize the city’s east side and combat food insecurity. However, a recent walkthrough revealed empty shelves, spoiled produce, and a closed deli section.
Operated by a non-profit within a city-owned shopping center, Sun Fresh has lost nearly $900,000 over the past few years. Though it received tens of millions in funding, including $750,000 from federal Community Development Block Grants for security and infrastructure, sales have declined significantly since the pandemic.
Shoppers report a lack of essential items: “There’s no meat. There’s no vegetables. There’s no nothing.” Additionally, customers are put off by a “rancid odor” in the store, exposed by local outlet KSHB. Many are forced to go elsewhere for their groceries.
Crime in the area has been a cited challenge, prompting the city to allocate extra funds for security. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas acknowledged the issue but noted that another nearby grocery store in a similar neighborhood is thriving. “We do want to make sure that we can get those operations right,” he said.
The non-profit operator, Community Builders of Kansas City (CBKC), took over in 2020 and also runs another Sun Fresh location on Blue Parkway. CBKC, founded in 1991, has invested $300 million in urban renewal. Their 2024 report highlighted partnerships with University Health to provide nutrition education and resources for elderly residents.
Despite noble goals and extensive investment, Sun Fresh Market remains on the verge of closure. Community leaders and city officials are now reassessing whether this model effectively meets the needs of the neighborhood—and what steps should follow.
