Kansas City, Missouri—City authorities have taken a step closer to reopening a grocery store that has been closed for a long time along the Prospect corridor. They announced that they have chosen a new operator for the Linwood Shopping Center location at 3110 Prospect Avenue.
Mayor Quinton Lucas said that United Market KC, LLC has been chosen to lease and manage the grocery store. This is an important step toward making sure that people in adjacent communities can always get groceries.
Associated Wholesale Grocers owns United Market, which has been running grocery stores that serve the community in the Kansas City area for many years. City leaders noted that background was a big part of the decision, especially because the previous operator left the location in August 2025, leaving the retail complex without a grocery store for a few months.
The decision came after a competitive assessment process that included interviews with three possible operators. A panel of City employees from General Services and people from nearby neighborhoods looked at each proposal. According to City officials, the review focused on operational expertise, financial strength, and how well each candidate aligned with community needs. In the end, United Market was seen as the best fit for the location overall.
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Mayor Lucas said that the move was part of a larger plan to help Prospect Avenue businesses succeed in the long term.
“United Market reflect the City’s commitment to long-term stability and reliable grocery access for the community,” said Mayor Lucas. “We’ve been deliberate throughout this process to help ensure the success of this privately-operated grocery store and the entire Prospect corridor.”
The Linwood Shopping Center is a big public investment in and of itself, with the City putting more than $15 million into efforts to improve the East Side. The operator has been chosen, but the formal lease and operating details are still under negotiation.
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The Finance, Governance, and Public Safety Committee will look over the ordinance that allows the leasing on January 27. Officials said that if the new grocery store gets the go-ahead from both the committee and the full City Council, it may open by mid-April 2026, bringing back an important service to the Prospect area.
