Fareway Meat & Grocery, a growing Iowa-based grocery chain, is getting ready to open a full-size store in Kansas City.
The more than 12,000 square-foot store will be “one of its kind,” even within the Fareway brands, said spokesperson Elias Johnson. The 1307 W. 79th St. spot will feature an industrial-sized smoker, full-service deli and outdoor seating.
Its grand opening celebration is set for Aug. 25 and will be open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
“We believe it’s really gonna add value to the area,” Johnson said.
The new location also will be the first with a fryer and walkup window. Customers will be able to enjoy wings, fries, sandwiches, deli slices, BBQ and more on the go.
“Everything’s prepared that day, and it’s all made-to-order,” he said. “We think it’s gonna be a real hit.”
Fareway has another full-scale store in the Northland at 8606 NE 85th St., and a smaller meat market focused on its butcher counter in Olathe at 13430 W. 151st St. It opened a spot in Basehor, just outside the Kansas City metro, late last year.
In 2020, Fareway purchased the McGonigle’s KC BBQ in Waldo, next to the upcoming meat market. The plan is to demolish the old building and move operations into its larger, new grocery store.
Johnson said the company is still determining what the old site will be redeveloped into.
Though the upcoming spot will be unique, Johnson hopes it will carry the same spirit and friendliness as its other locations.
“We believe in giving people a lasting impression. From the moment they walk in the door to the moment we carry their groceries out to them to the car,” Johnson said. “We kinda want to be the Ritz-Carlton of customer service.”
The spot will offer shrimp, king crab, lobster tails, salmon, lamb chops, bison sirloin, ribeye, wagyu and several other kinds and cuts of meat.
Johnson predicts BBQ-loving Kansas Citians will especially love the smoked meat offerings.
“If you bring those smoked meats home that we do, people are gonna think you’re a hero and an expert,” he said. “The meat counter is going to be the crown jewel of the store.”
Beyond the meat, Fareway will have all the typical grocery store offerings: produce, dairy, dry goods, household items, spices, kitchen supplies and more.
“We’ll still have anything anybody could need to fill their pantry,” Johnson said.
Fareway has been around for 88 years, beginning with its original location in Boone, Iowa.
Today, the store has more than 140 locations across the Midwest, with spots in Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, Kansas, Illinois and South Dakota.
Johnson said the brand has been excited about the growth in Kansas and Missouri. It aims to open several more in the metro.
Dining and Cooking