Community Groceries, the store without a checkout, is opening a fresh location on Troost Avenue.
The Crossroads convenience store opened in December 2022 and utilizes Amazon’s “Just Walk Out” technology. Developers have been quietly building a bigger, better version at 3501 Troost Ave., KCMO. Its soft opening is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 11.
Owner and KC local Kortney Lee says the store’s mission is to provide whole foods at affordable prices for the urban metro. He also wants to revive the mom-and-pop grocery store.
“We get to be the staple of the health of the community,” Kortney says. “We’ll be able to know everybody that lives here, all 9,000 people, by name.”
Kortney is passionate about using his skills to improve children’s health in Missouri, which ranked No. 6 in the nation for childhood obesity last year. He believes providing easy access to healthy, lower-cost options will help bridge the health education gap and lower the obesity rate.
In order to serve neighborhood shoppers with smaller storage options and budgets, Community Groceries charges by smaller units than traditional grocery stores. For example, you wouldn’t have to buy a whole bag of flour, you could purchase as little as one scoop at a preset price — no weighing necessary.
Along with fresh, organic foods, store offerings will include a service that drives you home after shopping and subscriptions for grocery delivery, both limited to a three mile radius of the store.
At the soft opening, “Just Walk Out” technology will not be live yet. Instead, shoppers are invited to use self checkouts. Cash will also be accepted.
