Kansas City is staring down a failed experiment. Nearly a decade ago, the city spent $17 million to buy and renovate the Linwood Shopping Center on Prospect Avenue. The anchor tenant, Sun Fresh Market, opened in 2018 with fresh produce, seafood, and a full-service deli. It was supposed to end the food desert. It’s now on life support.
The store lost $885,000 last year. Shelves are bare. Refrigerators sit empty. Foot traffic collapsed from 14,000 weekly to under 4,000. The city injected $750,000 in emergency funding this spring. That money was meant to restock inventory and fix broken air conditioning. It hasn’t reversed the trend.
Crime is the core issue. Police reports show assaults, robberies, and shoplifting in the immediate area have climbed every year since 2020. Shoplifting cases nearly tripled. Security footage shown at a public meeting last year included a naked woman throwing chips, a man urinating in the vestibule, and a couple having sex on the library lawn in broad daylight. The store’s nonprofit operator, Community Builders KC, says the environment—not management—is driving customers away.
The city owns the property. It also controls the Linwood Community Improvement District, which levies taxes to fund maintenance and security. But the district’s revenue is too low to cover basic needs. A chunk of the budget already goes to private security. The city patched a broken fence in July and addressed a sewer stench that lingered for weeks. Advocates say it’s too little, too late.
Local voices are blunt. Pat Clarke, a longtime community advocate, said the store is “damn near dead.” Jannine Owens, a regular shopper, asked, “Where’s the money at? Where’s the produce?” Emmet Pierson, who runs the store, told the city council, “You don’t go from 14,000 customers to 2,000 because of management. That’s because of environment.”
Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves promised more patrols last year. But officers say the lack of a jail means repeat offenders are released within hours. Maj. Chris Young said the same group of loiterers returns every week. The city closed its jail in 2009. That decision is now haunting the corridor.
Private grocers nearby are watching. Happy Foods, located just blocks away, turns a profit. Owner Zafar Iqbal spends $12,000 monthly on security and still stocks full shelves. He told reporters, “We’re doing everything out of pocket, we’re paying taxes, and we can still turn a profit. I don’t understand how they aren’t making money over there.”
The city council approved another $450,000 to settle legal claims with Community Builders. No details released. The store will get half of the $750,000 upfront. The rest depends on a new business plan, monthly revenue reports, and a proposal to sell the store to a new operator. If those conditions aren’t met, the city can claw back the funds.
The mayor wants the store cleaned up before World Cup tourists arrive next summer. That includes new sidewalks, banners, and branding. But the core problem remains. Crime is rising. Inventory is falling. Customers are leaving. And taxpayers are still paying.
Sources
https://archive.is/SdjHm#selection-315.0-315.69
https://www.yahoo.com/news/kansas-city-council-votes-bail-221537773.html
https://althouse.blogspot.com/2025/07/sales-at-city-owned-grocery-store-were.html
https://www.axios.com/local/kansas-city/2025/07/21/water-fountain-grocery-store-is-in-trouble
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