KANSAS CITY, Kan. — People are one step closer to finding out what the new grocery store in downtown KCK will look like.
The Unified Government and The Merc Co+op, who will be running the store, hope to break ground in June at 5th & Minnesota.
They need to have a store design picked out by early March to keep everything on track.
It could look like one of three images.
"People are attracted to option three to an extent because it has a canopy and that feels welcoming, like a place they would want to go and congregate," said Rita York Hennecke, the general manager of The Merc in Lawrence.
The UG and Merc representatives held four community input meetings in February.
"I was relieved to hear a lot of them talk about that they're trying to be very mindful of affordability and giving people options and access to more things," said Julianna Sellers, who works in KCK.
Some people like the modern look and some don't. Many people are interested in what's going on the shelves more than anything.
"I can't afford to shop at a health food store and I make a decent middle class salary," said KCK resident Corinna West.
Her concern has been a common one throughout the process because The Merc in Lawrence is known for its higher-end health foods.
The Merc has insisted that neighbors will decide what products they carry.
"We're hearing a lot of people say we want a salad bar, so now we're trying to figure out a way to get a salad bar. So it's very important that people speak up and tell us what they want," said York Hennecke.
Different food products were displayed on big boards and people could vote on which they'd be most likely to buy. York Hennecke says they'll use that data to stock the shelves.
The Merc says the store will have low-cost options, like Best Choice and Always Save. The store will accept SNAP and WIC.
Some are still leery of the project and the $6 million cost, which is financed in part by a TIF.
"There are already grocery stores downtown. There are three Burmese grocery stores within a mile of this project. There's over ten Latino grocery stores within a mile of this project," said West, who thinks the money should be spent helping current grocers expand.
The Merc downtown is set to open in a year.
"I'd like to see them reach out more to people who are maybe less inclined to come out to public meetings and find different ways to engage with the rest of the community, but I feel like they're making a good start," said Sellers.
The UG says more than 200 people filled out surveys at the meetings and just a few were negative overall.
McCown Gordan is the contractor on the project, decided in the fall.
Talks for a grocery store in the northeast part of KCK are in the works.
